Distributed virtual environment for satellite orbital modelling and near-earth space environment simulation and portrayal

The Satellite Modeler (SM) is a distributed virtual environment application that simulates the near-Earth space environment and portrays 3D graphical satellite models moving in their correct orbits around the Earth. The system allows the user to view satellites in orbit from both a space-based and Earth-based point of view. The Satellite Modeler provides capabilities that allow a user to interact with multiple satellite models and with active satellite constellations. The user can establish satellite constellations. The user can establish satellite orbital parameters during distributed virtual environment initialization and while the virtual environment is running. The system also functions as a network actor in a distributed virtual environment. The Satellite Modeler achieves realistic physical modeling of satellite orbital motion by basing its orbital calculations upon orbital mechanics and NORAD orbital element descriptions for satellites in orbit.