Spherical Coordinate Type
The Spherical coordinate type allows you to define the path of an orbit using polar rather than rectangular coordinates. The first two elements depend on whether the coordinate system is fixed or inertial
Spherical elements
Option |
Description |
Right Ascension (inertial)/ Longitude (fixed) |
Right Ascension is defined as the angle from the X axis to the projection of the satellite position vector in the equatorial plane measured as positive in the direction of the Y axis. |
Declination (inertial)/ Latitude (fixed) |
Declination is defined as the angle between the satellite position vector and the inertial equatorial plane measured as positive toward the positive inertial Z axis. |
Radius |
The magnitude of the satellite position vector. |
Flight Path Angle |
Horizontal (Hor FPA) or vertical (Ver FPA) flight path angle. The angle between the velocity vector and the radius vector (vertical) or the complement of this angle (horizontal). |
Azimuth |
The angle in the satellite local horizontal plane between the projection of the velocity vector onto this plane and the local north direction measured as positive in the clockwise direction. |
Velocity |
The magnitude of the velocity vector. |
Position & velocity for spherical coordinate elements