Spacecraft Simulation
Use the spacecraft blocks, available in the Aerospace Blockset > Spacecraft sublibrary, to model, simulate, and visualize the dynamics of spacecraft.
Blocks
| Attitude Dynamics | Model attitude dynamics of one or more spacecraft (Since R2023a) |
| Attitude Profile (Nadir Pointing) | Calculate shortest quaternion rotation (Since R2020b) |
| CubeSat Vehicle Earth (Nadir) Pointing | Model CubeSat vehicle whose primary alignment vector points towards center of Earth |
| Line of Sight Access | Determine line of sight (LOS) access between one or more source positions and one or more target positions (Since R2024b) |
| Orbit Propagator Kepler (unperturbed) | Propagate orbit of one or more spacecraft using Kepler universal variable formulation (Since R2020b) |
| Orbit Propagator Numerical (high precision) | Propagate orbit of one or more spacecraft using Kepler universal variable formulation (Since R2020b) |
| Spacecraft Dynamics | Model dynamics of one or more spacecraft (Since R2021b) |
Topics
- Model Spacecraft
Model, simulate, and visualize the motion and dynamics of spacecraft using spacecraft dynamics, orbit propagator, and CubeSat blocks.
- Model and Simulate CubeSats
Model, simulate, analyze, and visualize the motion and dynamics of spacecraft.
- Orbit Propagation Methods
Analyze the motion and dynamics of aerospace vehicles with short-period requirements, boundary line, and altitude contour plots.
- Getting Started with the Spacecraft Dynamics Block
This example shows how to model six degree-of-freedom rigid-body dynamics of a spacecraft or constellation of spacecraft with the Spacecraft Dynamics block from Aerospace Blockset™.
- Constellation Modeling with the Orbit Propagator Block
Propagate the orbits of a constellation of satellites and compute and visualize access intervals between the individual satellites and several ground stations.
- Developing the Apollo Lunar Module Digital Autopilot
Develop Apollo Lunar Module digital autopilot using Simulink® and Aerospace Blockset™.
Featured Examples
Constellation Modeling with the Orbit Propagator Block
Propagate the orbits of a constellation of satellites and compute and visualize access intervals between the individual satellites and several ground stations.
Space Rendezvous and Docking
Maneuver a spacecraft in orbit to rendezvous and dock with another spacecraft.
Mission Analysis with the Orbit Propagator Block
Compute and visualize line-of-sight access intervals between satellites and a ground station.
Getting Started with the Spacecraft Dynamics Block
Model six degree-of-freedom rigid-body dynamics of a spacecraft or constellation of spacecraft with the Spacecraft Dynamics block from Aerospace Blockset™.
Developing the Apollo Lunar Module Digital Autopilot
Develop Apollo Lunar Module digital autopilot using Simulink and Aerospace Blockset.
Lunar Mission Analysis with the Orbit Propagator Block
Compute and visualize access intervals between the Apollo Command and Service module and a rover on the lunar surface. The module's orbit is modeled using Reference Trajectory #2 from the NASA report Variations of the Lunar Orbital Parameters of the Apollo CSM-Module [2]. This is a lunar orbit studied by NASA for the Apollo program. The example uses:
Analyzing Spacecraft Attitude Profiles with Satellite Scenario
Propagate orbit and attitude states in Simulink and visualize computed trajectory and attitude profile in a satellite scenario.
Model-Based Systems Engineering for Space-Based Applications
Explore the CubeSat Model-Based System Engineering Project template.
High Precision Orbit Propagation of the International Space Station
Propagate the order of the International Space Station (ISS) using high precision numerical orbit propagation.
Hohmann Transfer with the Spacecraft Dynamics Block
Model a Hohmann transfer of a spacecraft between two circular coplanar orbits.
Collision Avoidance Maneuver for Upcoming Conjunction
Identify and avoid upcoming conjunctions.
