Constellation¶
Asset reference
Concept¶
A constellation is an organizational and generative construct: you pick a seed spacecraft (orbit and bus template) and expand it into a Walker (Delta or Star) pattern, or a trailing train (time or true-anomaly spacing).
Members remain ordinary spacecraft assets. Analyses such as Coverage or Connection Network can select the constellation as an aggregate acquirer/node, which the engines expand to the member set. Use constellations when the study is about a fleet pattern rather than hand-placing every satellite.
Where in the UI¶
| Mode | Entry |
|---|---|
| Create | Spacecraft ⋯ / context → Create Walker Constellation |
| Edit | Select constellation in tree → Properties |
Parameters¶
| Parameter | Type | Default | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed Satellite | select | — | Required; any mission spacecraft |
| Prefix | text | WALKER 1 (next free) |
Used to name generated members |
| Type | select | Walker Delta | Walker Delta, Walker Star, Trailing Time, Trailing Anomaly |
| Total N | integer ≥ 1 | 4 |
Walker: must be divisible by P |
| Planes P | integer ≥ 1 | 2 |
Walker only (trailing uses one plane) |
| Phasing F | integer ≥ 0 | 1 |
Walker only |
| Spacing Δt [s] | decimal | 60 |
Trailing Time; must be > 0 |
| Spacing Δν [deg] | decimal | 10 |
Trailing Anomaly; must be > 0 |
| Use different colours for each plane | checkbox | on | Walker only |
Validation
Walker: Create / Apply stays disabled until N > 0, P > 0, N % P == 0, and a seed is selected.
Trailing: N > 0 and Δt or Δν > 0, plus a seed.
Pattern types¶
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Walker Delta | RAAN spread over 360° |
| Walker Star | RAAN spread over 180° (polar-style) |
| Trailing Time | Members along the seed orbit, spaced by Δt |
| Trailing Anomaly | Members along the seed orbit, spaced by Δν |
Plan limits¶
| Cap | Effect |
|---|---|
maxConstellationSatellites / spacecraft caps |
Large N may be blocked server-side |
constellation count |
Limits how many constellation assets exist |
Default web seeds use modest N/P (e.g. 4/2) to stay inside trial-friendly limits.
Example¶
- Create spacecraft
SEED-1with desired orbit. - Create Walker Constellation → Type Delta, N=4, P=2, F=1, Prefix
DEMO. - Apply → four member spacecraft appear under the constellation.
- Use constellation aggregates in Coverage / Connection Network selectors.
Constellation Builder — seed, type (Walker or trailing), N / P / F.