Application Areas Space Mission Analysis and Design, Space Flight Dynamics Software
CelestLab is a library of space mechanics functions written in Scilab. This library has been developed and is maintained by the CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) DCT/SB/MS for mission analysis purposes.
The library is used by CNES for trajectory analysis and orbit design for various types of missions. CelestLab contains about 200 functions that allow to perform various tasks such as: orbit extrapolation, attitude computation, elementary manoeuvre computation, change of reference frame, change of coordinates…
The functions are gathered in the following submodules:
coordinates_frames: contains functions for change of reference frame, type of coordinate and dates.
geometry_event: contains functions for the computation of orbital geometry and orbital events (ground station visibility, sensor dazzling, ...)
interplanetary: contains functions for the 3 body problem analysis (note that functions of the orbit properties module can be used for interplanetary trajectory analysis - elliptic motion, patch conics)
models: contains various models for atmospheric density, polar motion, sun and moon position...
relative_motion: contains functions for relative trajectory using Clohessy Whiltshire formalism
trajectory_maneuvers: contains functions for orbit extrapolation, manoeuvre analysis and dispersions analysis
utils: contains miscellaneous functions in particular a list of constants and a Earth 2D plot function.
CelestLab has been validated against the CNES flight dynamics reference software. Every function is described, in its own help page with selected examples extracted from mission analysis typical studies.
Install CelestLab
in the Scilab console, type:
--> atomsInstall celestlab;
or
click on the menu bar on Applications > Module Manager – ATOMS, select CelestLab and click on Install button.
