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Old 12th Jun 2014, 19:54
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Vinnie Boombatz
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SW USA
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Satellite Orbits

For those who want to calculate INMARSAT 3-F1 position and velocity themselves:

AGI markets a number of software packages that calculate satellite orbits

AGI Blog

You can download a free version of STK here (note that the free version doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the pay version, but still has a lot of utility):

AGI - software to model, analyze and visualize space, defense and intelligence systems

Dr. T.S. Kelso also provides freeware in several languages for use with two-line element sets (TLE), along with the TLE data.

CelesTrak: Satellite Tracking Software by T.S. Kelso

TLE format is described on this page:

CelesTrak: NORAD Two-Line Element Set Format

with more explanation here:

CelesTrak: "FAQs: Two-Line Element Set Format"

(I have never used Kelso's freeware, but have used his TLE data on occasion and converted it to use with other software and spreadsheets. He cautions strongly against using other than his recommended software. I take that to heart, but was too lazy to try to learn to use a new tool.)

Kelso posts a lot of useful information, such as this discussion of geosynchronous orbits:

CelesTrak: "Basics of the Geostationary Orbit"

TLE data for 7 Mar 2014 can be obtained from (registration required, but free):

https://www.space-track.org/

Here is their TLE data for 7 Mar 2014 (Day 66 of year 2014, or 14066):

1 23839U 96020A 14066.96754476 -.00000012 00000-0 10000-3 0 2640
2 23839 001.6371 073.1994 0005326 270.3614 234.8362 01.00274124 65669
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