Developing Orbit Determination Systems with Orekit 11.0 and Java 21: A Practical Guide to Space Mission Planning

Introduction to Orbit Determination Systems

Orbit determination is a critical component of space mission planning, involving the estimation of a spacecraft's position, velocity, and attitude. With the increasing complexity of space missions, accurate orbit determination is essential for ensuring the success of these missions. In this article, we will explore the development of orbit determination systems using Orekit 11.0 and Java 21.

Orekit 11.0: An Overview

Orekit is an open-source Java library for space flight dynamics, providing a comprehensive set of tools for orbit determination, trajectory design, and spacecraft navigation. Orekit 11.0 is the latest version of the library, offering significant improvements in performance, accuracy, and usability.

Getting Started with Orekit 11.0

To get started with Orekit 11.0, you will need to download and install the library, as well as set up your development environment. Here is an example of how to install Orekit 11.0 using Maven:

  org.orekit
  orekit
  11.0

Orbit Determination with Orekit 11.0

Orbit determination with Orekit 11.0 involves several steps, including:

1. Defining the orbit: This involves specifying the orbit's semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination, and other parameters.
2. Specifying the measurement data: This includes defining the measurement data, such as range and range-rate measurements, that will be used to estimate the orbit.
3. Configuring the estimator: This involves configuring the estimator, such as the Kalman filter, that will be used to estimate the orbit.

Here is an example of how to define an orbit using Orekit 11.