The Launch Vehicle Object

The Launch Vehicle Object models the properties and behavior of a vehicle that follows an ascent trajectory from a launch point to an orbit insertion point. Select one or more of the following to model a Launch Vehicle, impose constraints, and define the launch vehicle's subobjects:

Basic Properties

Property Description
Trajectory Define the path that the launch vehicle will follow by selecting and defining one of the following propagators:
SimpleAscentCreates an ascent trajectory based on launch and insertion parameters. The trajectory is a simple curve rising vertically from the launch pad that turns over smoothly to insert the launch vehicle into orbit with a zero flight path angle at the insertion point using the specified velocity.
StkExternalEnables you to read the ephemeris for a satellite from a file.
RealTimeEnables you to propagate vehicle ephemeris using near-real-time data received using a Connect socket.

You can also position a launch vehicle or missile by clicking anywhere in the 2D Graphics window. If you use the mouse in the 2D Graphics window to specify the position of the launch vehicle or missile, be sure that the Trajectory properties page is open. You do not need to click OK or Apply after you have positioned the object in the 2D Graphics window. You will need to click OK or Apply if you have made any other changes on the Trajectory properties page. For more information on setting object properties using the mouse, see Mouse Shortcuts.

If you are interested in end-to-end trajectories including boost phase, missile intercepts, and/or missile defense architecture performance, you should explore Missile Tool Kit (MTK). For designers and analysts of ballistic missiles, kinetic interceptors, sensor systems, and integrated missile defense architectures, MTK provides key analysis capability via user interfaces that minimize expertise requirements without sacrificing modeling fidelity.
Attitude Define an attitude profile for the launch vehicle.
Lighting Define the eclipse central body list used for lighting computations.
Ground Ellipses Add a set of ellipses for the launch vehicle.
SEET

SEET property pages enable you to enter values that affect calculations involving the space environment as modeled by the STK Space Environment and Effects (SEET) capability :

  • Environment. Set parameters that affect the magnetic field model and the entrance and exit times and probable fluxes for a vehicle crossing the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a region of space with an enhanced concentration of ionizing radiation.
  • Thermal. Set material properties and average Earth albedo that affect the determination of vehicle temperature exposed to direct solar and reflected Earth radiation.
  • Particle Flux. Set parameters that affect the determination of the level of (damaging) exposure due to meteroids and debris particles.
  • Radiation. Set parameters that affect the expected ionizing dose rate and energetic particle fluxes due to the trapped electron and proton populations, as well as integrated total dose and fluence (flux integrated over time).

SEET radiation computations are also affected by scenario-level settings.

Processing Delay The summed time values of the processing delays specified by each object in the strand plus the light time delay between object pairs in the strand. The light time delay between object pairs is computed simply based on the objects positions divided by the speed of light.
Description Record useful information about the launch vehicle.

2D Graphics Properties

Property Description
Attributes Define color, line style, and other graphics characteristics for the launch vehicle, and opt whether to inherit or override global attributes defined at the Scenario level.
Trajectory Define the graphical display of the launch vehicle's trajectory in the 2D Graphics window.
Contours Define elevation angle contours in the 2D Graphics window.
Range Define range contours representing the various regions of the surface that can see an object at the specified level.
Lighting Define the graphical display of lighting conditions for the launch vehicle during animation.
Swath Calculate and graphically display swath for the launch vehicle.
Ground Ellipses Set the display graphics for a ellipse set defined on the Basic Ground Ellipse page for vehicles.
SEET Environment

Set parameters that affect the display of the magnetic field and the contours of the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) in relation to the vehicle, as modeled by the STK Space Environment and Effects Tool.
Radar Cross Section Define the 2D contour graphics for the desired frequency.

3D Graphics Properties

Property Description
Trajectory Control the display of the launch vehicle trajectory.
Trajectory System Set the reference frame or frames used for displaying the launch vehicle's trajectory.
Attitude Sphere The Attitude Sphere is a visualization aid that when combined with vector display constitutes a powerful tool for displaying the launch vehicle's attitude and for tracking attitude changes over time.
Vector Control the display of vectors and other geometric elements related to the launch vehicle.
Proximity Control the position of the launch vehicle in the 3D Graphics window.
Drop Lines Define the display of lines between the launch vehicle's trajectory (the actual path that the launch vehicle follows) and the central body.
Covariance Define the graphical display of a 3D ellipsoid.
Model Specify a model to represent the launch vehicle in the 3D Graphics window, and then scale the model and adjust the position of any model articulations.
Offsets Position a model and marker representing a launch vehicle in the 3D Graphics window by offsetting the launch vehicle from its reference frame.
Contours Define elevation angle contours in the 3D Graphics window.
Range Display range contours for the launch vehicle. Range contours display in accordance with the values set for the 3D Graphics Range Contours for the launch vehicle.
Model Pointing Point parts of the launch vehicle model toward a target, such as the Sun or Earth.
Data Display Display dynamic data for the launch vehicle in the 3D Graphics window.
Vapor Trail Add a vapor trail to the launch vehicle.
Radar Cross Section Control the 3D display of RCS contour lines.

Constraints

Property Description
Active

Impose constraints on access from the following available constraint categories for a Launch Vehicle object:

  • Basic: The most commonly used constraints
  • Angle: Constraints that involve an angular measure
  • Geometry: Constraints that use a geometric measure (other than angle), such as range, altitude, and grazing altitude
  • Analysis Workbench (AWB): Constraints that involve an Analysis Workbench (AWB) component (Angle, Calculation Scalar, Condition, or Vector)
  • Central Body: Constraints involving the location of the Sun, planets, and moons
  • Multifunction Radar: Constraints pertaining to a multifunction radar
  • Multifunction Radar Jamming: Constraints pertaining to a multifunction radar in the presence of jamming transmissions
  • Plugins: Your own plugin constraints, which compute a plugin-defined metric that you define
  • Radar SAR: Constraints pertaining to a SAR radar
  • Radar SAR Jamming: Constraints pertaining to a SAR radar in the presence of jamming transmissions
  • Radar SearchTrack: Constraints pertaining to a search/track radar
  • Radar SearchTrack Jamming: Constraints pertaining to a search/track radar in the presence of jamming transmissions
  • SEET: Constraints that leverage the Space Environmental and Effects Tool (SEET)
  • Temporal: Constraints related to specified time-of-day or time intervals
  • Zones: Constraints using longitude or latitude as the measure
Settings Select access constraint conditions that apply generally to access computations involving a Launch Vehicle object.
SEET Special access constraints are imposed based on relationships of the vehicle with, and the effects of, the space environment as modeled by the STK Space Environment and Effects Tool (e.g., debris and meteroid fluxes, radiation fluxes, vehicle temperature, magnetic field, etc.).

RF Properties

Property Description
Environment Apply environmental factors that affect the performance of a communications link or a radar system.
Radar Cross Section Specify the radar cross section (RCS) parameters.

LASER Properties

Property Description
Environment Apply environmental factors that affect the performance of a laser communications link.

Subobjects

You can attach the following subobjects to a launch vehicle: