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1994-01-09
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TRAKSAT Version 3.01
TRAKSAT is a general purpose satellite tracking program, by that
I mean any satellite that has a NORAD, NASA 2-Line element set
can be used. The solution to the satellite motion which is used
by TRAKSAT is completely analytic and therefore requires no
numerical integration. This makes the program fast, even faster
when a coprocessor is used, since the solutions can be evaluated
at arbitrarily large, or small, time intervals.
The purpose of this program is to provide the user with a means
of propagating NORAD element sets in time to obtain tracking
information of the space object.
******************
* IMPORTANT NOTE *
******************
The NORAD satellite data set included with TRAKSAT contains the
elements for over 650 satellites. HOWEVER this data will be
several weeks old by the time most people obtain this program.
The elements included can be used to run the program through its
paces but updated elements will be required in order to make
accurate predictions. For more information on satellite elements
see Chapter 11.
Did you get a complete copy of the program? The following files
SHOULD have been included in the archive file.
TRAKSAT.EXE The program.
TRAKSAT.INI The default data for TRAKSAT.
TRAKSAT.CTY The city file for tracking stations.
TRAKSAT.DOC TRAKSAT program documentation.
EARTH.DAT World map data file.
TLE.TXT This is the latest NORAD satellite data set,
READ.ME Latest notes about the program.
TRAK300.NEW New features for this version.
MSHERC.COM This utility is used for Hercules graphics.
MODERN.FON This is a font file used for the graphics.
ORDER.FRM This file contains TRAKSAT order forms.
STAR6A.BIN This is a star data base that is NOT required
to run TRAKSAT, it is optional. This data file
can be used in the external star data
option. It has all stars to magnitude 6.0
in it.
What do I need to run the program? In order to run the program
the user will need the following hardware/software;
IBM or 100% compatible PC,XT,AT,PS/2,386,486, 640K
Ram (460K FREE RAM IS REQUIRED), Floppy or Hard
Disk (approximately 950K free), Text mode display
(25x80), Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, or SVGA graphics
Math coprocessor is NOT required BUT RECOMMENDED,
(IF A COPROCESSOR IS PRESENT IT WILL BE USED *),
PC DOS or MS DOS VERSION 3.0 or above.
* It should be noted that a coprocessor will be 3 to 4 times
faster than the emulator version. If the user plans on using the
real-time tracking mode, a coprocessor will "smooth out" the time
steps to such a small delta as to appear instantaneously. At any
rate the real-time mode runs as fast as the host computer can
calculate the data and update the screen.
TRAKSAT is available from many BBS's and shareware firms and
normally stored in a compressed format such as ZIP. The user will
be required to uncompress the files by whatever means it was
compressed with first. To install the program first create a
directory on your hard disk. Type "C:" <Enter> then "cd\trak300"
<Enter> to create a directory named C:\TRAK300. (Do not type the
quotes, the <Enter> means press the Enter or Return key.) If your
hardware is different substitute the required changes as needed.
Next copy ALL the files to the just created directory on your
hard disk. That is all that is required to run the program. Read
Chapter 2 (User Options) for additional details on user set
options that you may want. IT IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU
SET THE OUTPUT PATH IN THE TRAKSAT.INI FILE. If you do not set
the path the program may over write output files.
Running The Program
To start TRAKSAT you type "TRAKSAT", without the quotation marks,
at the DOS prompt. Several command-line options are available to
modify the start-up of the program. See Chapter 2 for details.
If all is well the program will startup with a Tabular mode
tracking the Mir satellite.
Please read the document file, TRAKSAT.DOC for more details.
Updates
1-10-94 Fixed a Local/UTC Delta-time mode error, incorrect times
were displayed.
1-10-94 Fixed not saving a changed visibility flag for new stations.