AAS 97-731
CURRENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE DRAPER SEMIANALYTICAL SATELLITE THEORY STANDALONE ORBIT PROPAGATOR PACKAGE
J. G. Neelon, P. J. Cefola and R. J. Proulx - The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
Abstract
Early development of the Draper Semianalytical Satellite Theory (DSST) was motivated by the goal of a nonsingular, semianalytical theory that combined the best characteristics of existing Numerical and Semianalytical Satellite Theories. By early 1983, the Draper GTDS implementation of the DSST included the major physical models: higher order geopotential (21 x 21), atmospheric drag, lunar-solar point masses, and solar radiation pressure. To provide greater access to the DSST, a Standalone version which operated separately from GTDS was constructed. Most recently, the Standalone has been used in the ASKS tool for satellite constellations. Currently, an effort is in progress to improve the accuracy and maintainability of the Standalone. The improvements include new models for the coordinate system reference (J2000), geopotential (50 x 50), and solid Earth tides, and modifications to the short-periodic model.