How to Quickly Create a Mission to the Moon Using STK's Astrogator Capability

The following steps explain how to design a representative lunar mission using STK's Astrogator capability. After designing the trajectory and creating a report for the maneuvers, you can also determine if you have line of sight to the Goldstone Deep Space Network (DSN) station during the lunar insertion burn.

Required Licenses:  STK Premium Space (STK 12.3 and later)
                                   STK Free, STK Astrogator (STK 12.2 and earlier)

 

Section 1:  Create the Earth-to-Moon trajectory

1. Create a new scenario called "LunarMissionDesign" and accept the default start and stop times; then click OK.
2. In the Insert STK Objects dialog box, select Satellite and then select Define Properties. Click Insert....
3. In the Satellite Properties window, at the top of the Basic - Orbit page, change the Propagator to Astrogator.
4. In the panel on the left, delete the default Initial State and Propagate segments.
5. Click the Insert Segment After icon ().
6. In the Segment Selection dialog box, expand (+) the Examples Folder at the bottom, select Earth To Moon, and click OK.
7. Expand (+) the Target Moon and Get Into Orbit segments, if necessary.
8. Click the green Run Entire Mission Control Sequence button () to calculate the trajectory.
9. Click the Clear Graphics icon () to clear the graphics for each of the iterations.
10. Click OK to dismiss the satellite properties browser.
11. Close or minimize the iteration reports.

 

Section 2: Generate a maneuver report

1. In the 3D Graphics window, click the Central Body icon () and select Moon.
2. Right-click on your satellite in the Object Browser and select Report and Graph Manager….
3. Expand (+) the Installed Styles, scroll down, and double-click Maneuver Summary.
4. Make note of the Start Time, Finite Burn Duration, Delta-V, and Fuel Used for both maneuvers.
5. Save the scenario.

 

Section 3:  Calculate line of sight to the DSN

1. Go to the Insert menu and select New….
2. From the Scenario Objects list, select Facility and then select From Standard Object Database.
3. In the Network shortcut menu, select NASA DSN and then click the Search button.
4. Select DSS 14 Goldstone STDN DS14 and then click Insert.
5. Close the Standard Object Data dialog box and close the Insert STK Objects dialog box.
6. Right-click DSS_14_Goldstone and select Access….
7. Select your satellite and then click Compute.
8. In the Reports section, click the Access… button to calculate the line-of-sight intervals.
9. View the 3D graphics window to verify that you have line of sight to the DSN during the lunar insertion burn.