Use to define the display of lines between an object's orbit, route or trajectory (the actual path that an object follows) or an object's position and a central body.
From Current Vehicle Position
The position drop line always goes to the central body defined for the object.
Drop lines to. Specifies where to end the drop lines. Drop lines can end at the mean sea level (MSL), the terrain, and/or the central body's reference ellipsoid (WGS84).
When you select Terrain, the lines are actually extended through the terrain to ensure that the drop lines intersect with the central body surface below the vehicle, if the terrain is rendered. (The rendered terrain may not exactly match the interpolated sub-vehicle point due to the nature of rendering terrain in openGL.)
Show. Displays a single line from the selected object's current position on its orbit, route or trajectory to the object's position on its ground track. The line moves with the object during animation representing the object's current position along its path. You can select Show for one or more Drop Lines to options (Terrain, Mean Sea Level, and WGS84 Ellipsoid).
Custom 3D Color. If not selected, properties set for 2D graphics are used in the 3D Graphics window. If selected, the following properties for the 3D graphics window are used.
Color. Line color. To change the color, double-click it, click the down arrow, and select a new color.
Width. Line width. Double-click it and then click the down arrow to change the line width.
From Orbit/Route/Trajectory
For satellites, missiles, and launch vehicles: use to define the display of lines between an object's orbit/trajectory/route and a central body as defined by the 3D Graphics window and the Orbit System selected on the 3D Graphics Orbit/Trajectory Systems properties page:
- If the Orbit System is set to Inertial by Window (default) or Fixed by Window on the 3D Graphics Orbit/Trajectory Systems properties page, the drop lines go to the central body shown in the 3D Graphics window. For example, if you have 3D Graphics windows with Earth, Moon, and Mars central bodies, the drop lines will go to Earth, Moon, and Mars in their respective windows.
- For all other VGT orbit systems, the drop lines will go to the central body associated with the owner of the VGT system. For example, if an Earth Centered Inertial orbit system is selected on the 3D Graphics Orbit/Trajectory Systems properties page, the drop lines will go to Earth.
For great arc vehicles: The drop lines always goes to the central body defined for the object.
Drop lines to. Specifies where to end the drop lines. Drop lines can end at the mean sea level (MSL), the terrain, and/or the central body's reference ellipsoid (WGS84).
When you select Terrain, the lines are actually extended through the terrain to ensure that the drop lines intersect with the central body surface below the vehicle, if the terrain is rendered. (The rendered terrain may not exactly match the interpolated sub-vehicle point due to the nature of rendering terrain in openGL.)
Show. Displays lines at specified intervals along the selected object's path. The first line displays at the position of the vehicle at the beginning of its ephemeris. Subsequent lines display at the specified intervals along the path of the vehicle. The lines do not move with the object during animation, but instead represent milestones at specified intervals along its path. You can select Show for one or more Drop Lines to options (Terrain, Mean Sea Level, and WGS84 Ellipsoid).
Custom 3D Color. If not selected, displays interval lines in the same color as the object's orbit. If selected, the following properties for the 3D graphics window are used.
Color. Line color. To change the color, double-click it, click the down arrow, and select a new color.
Width. Line width. Double-click it and then click the down arrow to change the line width.
Interval. Specifies the distance in time between interval lines. To change the time interval, double-click it and enter a new value.