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1995-10-31
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STSORBIT PLUS Revision History
------------------------------
Each released version of STSPLUS uses a four digit revision code such
as 9540. The first two digits indicate the year and the second two digits
indicate the week of the year. In some cases, an additional letter suffix
is added to distinguish changes occurring within the same week or to
identify special versions. A partial week at the beginning or end of the
year is counted as a full week. Using this method, a year will typically
have 53 weeks although it is possible to have 54 weeks in a leap year (1972
is an example). The current year-week revision code is shown on the Julian
Date display, Display Mode 7, in my program ASTROCLK.
This file records the revision history of program STSPLUS through all
of the minor twists and turns that usually accompany the evolution of such
a complex program. It illustrates the tortuous process of maintaining and
refining a program as ideas and problems are reported from every quarter.
These notes may also be helpful to users who are upgrading from one version
to another to find out what has changed.
David H. Ransom, Jr.
Version 9540 -- September 1995
------------------------------
-This is a MINOR UPDATE, correcting what are hopefully the last minor bugs
introduced with the recent releases (9537 thru 9539).
-Corrected a bug which caused the Inclination to appear as 0.000000 after
using F2 to update TLEs. Thanks to Ray Grace for the report!
-Corrected a bug which caused the screen to scroll in rectangular
projection when statute miles were the unit of measure and XYZ coordinates
were displayed. Thanks to John Szalay for the report!
-Corrected a cosmetic bug which caused the Time Since Epoch ("T+Epoch"),
which was increased by one digit to the left to accommodate up to 99999
days, to erase the last letter of "Epoch" in rectangular projection.
Version 9539 -- September 1995
------------------------------
-This is a MAINTENANCE UPDATE, correcting a number of problems which were
detected in Versions 9537 and 9538. As sometimes happens, incorporating new
or changed features introduces bugs which aren't found during initial
testing. My apologies and thanks to everyone who reported the problems.
-A number of problems were found which resulted in a corrupt initialization
file (STSPLUS.INI). Some problems were traced to program bugs and some to
problems with TLE files. Every effort has been made to eliminate the
internal bugs and to improve "bullet proofing" for TLE files. However,
users are reminded that STSPLUS assumes that the TLE files are free from
major structural errors and do not include plain text. Use my program
ORBITEL or an ASCII editor to check TLE files prior to use with STSPLUS.
TLE files obtained from my RPV Astronomy BBS have been checked.
-After too many attempts, I finally was able to get Windows 95 running on
one of my test systems. (My primary test system was unable to run Win95!)
Initial tests indicate STSPLUS performs adequately, although not as fast as
under DOS 6.2. However, users should operate STSPLUS in a full window!
Version 9538 -- September 1995
------------------------------
-This is a MINOR UPDATE, adding minor enhancements, correcting several
minor bugs, and adding setup features.
-Several users have reported a problem with Version 9537 which causes the
program NOT to return to the Main Menu from the map when ENTER is pressed.
This is apparently caused by file STSPLUS.INI becoming corrupt. However, I
have been unable to duplicate the problem. As a workaround, copy a good
version of file STSPLUS.INI (the distribution version of STSPLUS.INI, for
example) to another file named STSPLUS.OK. Then, if you must reboot your
computer to exit STSPLUS, execute the following DOS command before again
running STSPLUS:
COPY STSPLUS.OK STSPLUS.INI
-STSPLUS now requests the first time user to set certain features before
the program starts normal operation. This setup feature is automatically
selected when the distribution version of file STSPLUS.INI is used and may
be requested at any time by including the "/NEW" command line option when
the program is started:
STSPLUS /NEW
This feature requests the user to select the location, allows STSPLUS to
calculate an estimated UTCOffset so the user may select the correct UTC
Offset (below), and displays the current files and paths for user approval.
A new text section, INITIAL STSPLUS SETUP, describes this feature in more
detail.
-When the "/NEW" command line option is used (and when the distribution
version of file STSPLUS.INI is used), STSPLUS now calculates an estimated
UTCOffset based upon Primary Location longitude. Since the estimate does
not take into account the political "adjustments" made to time zones, it
may be off by one hour. Users whose time zone is set to other than the
exact hour must enter the correct UTCOffset. (Prior versions simply
displayed "(not set)" when the UTCOffset had not been set.)
-Corrected a minor bug which caused the Time Zone Abbreviation not to be
set when first initializing the program.
-Added Latitude, Longitude and Elevation data for all locations when
setting local coordinates (F10+F2). Example:
Current PRIMARY Location: Palos Verdes, CA
Latitude: 33.7632 degrees
Longitude: -118.4057 degrees
Elevation: 186 meters
-Added backspace processing for SCF filename entry, F6+F2 and F6+F3 from
the Main Menu. All characters in the SCF filename are now capitalized, even
if entered in lower case. Thanks to Russ Nelson for the "catch"!
-I have added ALT-F1 to the Main Menu to display the primary satellite's
orbital data along with various times of interest. The command is NOT
displayed on the Main Menu! (This is experimental ONLY ... comments
invited.)
-Corrected a cosmetic problem with node data and "/CLK" command line option
in rectangular projection. The node data now appears within the box.
-Modified large digit MET with the "/CLK" command line option in
rectangular projection to show full MET with up to 5 digits of days.
-Added file VBERRORS.TXT to the distribution package. This file lists the
Visual Basic for DOS errors which can terminate STSPLUS (extracted from
Microsoft documentation).
Version 9537 -- September 1995
------------------------------
-This is a MAINTENANCE UPDATE, adding several enhancements, correcting
several relatively minor bugs, and various cosmetic changes.
-By popular request, the current Satellite Configuration File (SCF)
filename is now saved in file STSPLUS.INI. Pressing ENTER when using either
SCF Save (F6+F2) or SCF Read (F6+F3) will now select the current SCF
filename. Use ESC to quit without reading/saving the SCF file. See text
for additional details.
-NOTE: Users upgrading from a prior version (Version 9517 or older) and
using their old .INI file must save the current satellite configuration
(F6+F2) using the appropriate filename before the correct filename will be
saved; the default SCF filename is otherwise set to STSPLUS.SCF.
-Various code and cosmetic changes have been made to the Satellite
Configuration section (F6 from the Main Menu) to improve performance and
error checking. One significant change is that STSPLUS will no longer
attempt to process the skeletal TLEs generated when a new satellite is
added to the SCF list; the satellite will be skipped with no message until
real TLEs are present.
-In response to many questions, I have added STATUTE MILES for all distance
calculations. Use F9 while the map is displayed to switch between
kilometers (km), nautical miles (nm), and statute miles (sm). Prior
versions of STSPLUS only calculated distances in kilometers and nautical
miles. NASA has contributed to the "confusion" by using STATUTE MILES in
most public statements (especially for orbital altitude) while using
NAUTICAL MILES internally.
-Added additional information to file STSPLUS.LOG for Pass Predictions (F3
from the Main Menu, Data Mode = 9) so that data may be more readily
identified at a later time. The additional information is:
Location: Palos Verdes, CA
Prepared: Saturday, 09 Sep 1995 17:02:42
Satellite Name: STS-69
Catalog Number: 23667 95048A
TLE Filename: STS69R04.TXT
Where: "Location" is the current primary location; "Prepared" is the
(computer) date and time of preparation; "Satellite Name" is the common
name of the satellite; "Catalog Number" is the NORAD Number followed by the
International Designation of the satellite; and, "TLE Filename" is the name
of the 2-line elements file used.
-File STSMIR.ICN, now included with the distribution package, provides an
icon of the Space Shuttle docked on the Mir Space Station. See file
STSMIR.NOT for instructions on using the icon during upcoming rendezvous
missions. The icon was first prepared for the STS-71 mission.
-Corrected a minor bug which required the 2-line elements file to be read
when resuming a prior mission (the command line option "/R" is included).
STSPLUS now reads the INI file for the TLEs when resuming a prior mission.
This modification also eliminates occasional TLE problems when selecting a
new Primary Satellite from the list of Secondary Satellites (F6+F4 from the
Main Menu); the LTD and XRF files are now checked when a new Primary
Satellite is selected.
-Corrected a problem with the "ZOE" (Zone of Exclusion) label when other
than TDRS-East and TDRS-West are used as the communications satellites in
secondary satellite slots 1 and 2. The location of the label was hard-coded
for the TDRS satellites. The location (longitude) of the "ZOE" label is now
calculated dynamically and will appear in the correct location for other
communications satellite configurations such as the two Russian ALTAIR
satellites #20391 (Cosmos 2054/ALTAIR-1) and #23426 (Luch/ALTAIR-2) being
used for communications with the MIR spacecraft.
-Corrected a minor bug which caused only four digits of MET days to be
displayed. Older satellites, such as Vangard 1 (NORAD #00005) have MET
greater than 9999 days. Note that the large MET display in the orthographic
display always displays MET MOD 10000 because of space limitations.
-Corrected a long standing bug which sometimes caused the "BASIC Error =
76" (path error) message and returned the user to DOS when attempting to
execute TRAKSTAR (F4 from the Main Menu). The initial default path was
missing a trailing backslash ("\") unless the path was manually entered.
Thanks to James Gundrey and others for continuing to report the error until
I finally spotted the cause!
-Modified the AOS/LOS algorithm which caused the AOS/LOS times to be
slightly processor dependent. The variation among various processors (386,
486 and Pentium) was usually on the order of plus or minus five seconds.
There may still be small differences (several seconds) between very fast
and very slow processors and systems with and without a math coprocessor
due to a simpler and slightly less accurate algorithm when the coprocessor
is absent (to minimize calculation times).
-Corrected a bug which caused the local time zone abbreviation to be blank
after changing the status of the Daylight Flag (F8+F10). In prior versions
the user had to exit STSPLUS and restart the program before the local time
zone abbreviation was correct.
-Replaced the three lines labeled "Launch Year", "Launch Number", and
"Launch Piece" with the single line "Int'l Designation" in the display for
data approval when reading new TLEs from a file (F2 from Main Menu). Also,
the 2nd Derivitave of the Mean Motion (dx/dt2) has been added.
-The use of a RAM disk has been deleted from the suggested system setup
instructions. Although a RAM disk is still an effective technique
(especially with a "vanilla" setup), use of disk read caching with
Microsoft's SMARTDRV or an equivalent disk caching program is now
recommended as a more general solution applicable to many applications.
(Disk write caching is NOT recommended; loss of power with write caching
enabled can result in inadvertent data loss.)
Version 9517 -- April 1995
--------------------------
-This is a MAJOR UPGRADE, adding several important new features and
enhancements. User feedback and requests have been a key factor in the
choice of those features to add. My thanks to everyone who has taken the
time to offer suggestions and submit bug reports. This version has been
preceeded by a number of Beta Test Versions which have been of great help
in working out the bugs. Among the new features are: visible Pass
Predictions, Launch Simulation for the Space Shuttle, and new Sun and
satellite icons.
-Several sections of the documentation have been added or materially
revised to reflect the new features and changes documented below.
-Added VISIBLE Pass Predictions so that users may now see at a glance when
potential viewing opportunities are in the offing. Visibility conditions
are tested at AOS, MAX altitude, and LOS. The feature is automatic with
line-of-sight Pass Predictions (F3 from the Main Menu, Function 9, with Sun
features are ENABLED). This has been one of the most frequently asked for
enhancements to STSPLUS! This feature is still somewhat experimental, and
comments are invited!
-Changed the displayed date format in Pass Predictions from "04/24/1995" to
"24 APR 95" to avoid confusion with various date formats and to allow two
extra columns for the "V" (visibility) flag. The new format is "dd MMM yy"
where "dd" is the current day of the month, "MMM" is the alphabetic
abbreviation for the month, and "yy" is the last two digits of the year.
-Added Launch Simulation (for Space Shuttle launches ONLY), enabled when
entering launch time and date using F5 from the Main Menu. See the section
"Launch Simulation for the Space Shuttle" for details. Thanks to Willie
Musty of Rockwell Mission Support for providing ascent data, as well as to
Ken Ernandes, Paul Traufler, and Dave Simonson for their assistance.
-Changed the Sun icon to filled -- for the second time. Hopefully, this
time will prove error-free! Thanks to Russ Nelson and Don Nicholson for
keeping after me on this enhancement.
-Corrected the coordinates for Cape Canaveral (from several miles offshore
to onshore) in files STSPLUS.CTY and STSPLUS.LOC. Added coordinates for
Launch Pads 39A and 39B at Cape Canaveral to file STSPLUS.LOC and
internally; because of their close proximity to Cape Canaveral, the two
launch pads are unlabeled and appear at MAG=2000 or greater in orthographic
projection only. Launch pad coordinate data courtesy Dave Simonson, DOD C-
Band Radar Network.
-After numerous requests for special and/or different satellite icons, I
have rewritten the code to use three default icons in two different sizes.
The three icon shapes are: Space Shuttle (used whenever the satellite name
begins with "STS"); MIR Space Station (used with NORAD Number 16609 only);
and, Hubble Space Telescope (default selection). The icon size may be
selected using "Set Display Features", F10+F3+F1. The default icon size is
15x15 pixels, approximately the same size as the satellite icons in prior
versions. The larger 21x21 pixel icon size is more easily seen when the
program is converted to NTSC or PAL television format. The command line
option "/21" may also be used when the program is executed to force the
icon size to 21x21 pixels. As usual, however, there is no free lunch; these
new icons take less code but slightly more time to draw and erase.
*** SPECIAL NOTE ***
Users who register or re-register STSPLUS Version 9517 and higher will
receive a copy of STSICON, the custom icon drawing program used to
create and modify STSPLUS icons. STSICON is ONLY available with
registration, see file README.
-As a companion feature to the new satellite icon code, STSPLUS will now
search for a file "#nnnnn.ICN" (where "nnnnn" is the satellite NORAD
Number) to use as the icon data for that specific satellite in place of the
internal icons. These "#nnnnn.ICN" files are produced by program STSICON
and are limited to a maximum size of 21x21 pixels.
-Corrected BASIC ERROR = 5 in Version 9515 when satellite icon moved
offscreen in full world rectangular projection (Auto-Redraw OFF).
-Function Key F6 for Display Features (F10+F3+F6) now controls the local
and satellite circles of visibility. Successive keypresses cycle through
OFF, LCL, SAT, and BOTH. (The local circle(s) of visibility were assigned
to Function Key F1 in prior versions.)
-By request, increased the maximum number of Tracking Stations permitted in
".TRK" files from 25 to 50. For the convenience of users making their own
Tracking Station files, the format for ".TRK" files is now included in the
main documentation and below:
"Maui, Hawaii",-156.7,20.9,396,"HAW"
------+----- ---+-- --+- -+- -+-
| | | | |
| | | | +--- Three-letter Abbreviation
| | | |
| | | +-------- Elevation in meters
| | |
| | +------------ Latitude in degrees
| |
| +------------------ Longitude in degrees
|
+----------------------------- Station Name
Note: Station Names are limited to 20 characters and Station Abbreviations
are limited to 3 characters.
-Users may now select as the user location any of the tracking stations in
the tracking station file (default file is STSPLUS.TRK) using F10+F2+F6
from the Main Menu. This feature has been requested by several users.
-Changed the error message when reading a TLE file to correctly indicate
the cause of an error. When TLE data is formatted incorrectly (as with TLE
data from a UNIX system with each line terminated with LF instead of
CR+LF as required by DOS), STSPLUS incorrectly reported "File <filename>
not found!". The error message now reports "Data problems with file
<filename>, check data format!". To correct UNIX formatted TLE files, use
an ASCII editor such as the shareware program QEDIT; QEDIT will reformat
each line with the CR+LF termination. I also have posted program TOMS.ZIP
on my RPV Astronomy BBS which reformats UNIX text files for DOS. TLE data
downloaded from NASA Spacelink may exhibit this data format problem.
-Repaired a bug which sometimes caused STSPLUS to fail with BASIC ERROR = 5
when using the "/R" command line option. Whether or not the error occurred
appears to have been data dependent and has now been resolved. (A call to
the DOS clock was not being made with the "/R" command line option and this
sometimes resulted in an illegal function call.) Thanks to Rudy Appel for
reporting the problem!
-Repaired a bug which sometimes caused STSPLUS not to find the correct
satellite in the TLE file when the "/R" command line option was used. The
problem occurred only when the satellite was included in file STSPLUS.XRF
and the satellite name was modified. Note that the default satellite when
using F2 is now the satellite NORAD Number ("#16609" for MIR, for example)
rather than an abbreviated satellite name. This change will also reduce
problems and errors when multiple satellites have similar names like "MIR"
and "MIR DEB" (MIR debris).
-Corrected a bug in the ZOOM feature. The PgUp and PgDn keys now operate
correctly for zoom functions in rectangular projections. My apologies for
not spotting this bug sooner ... I seldom use the rectangular projections
in conjunction with Doppler data. The bug appeared when Doppler data was
added in early 1994 (Version 9406) and only then after Doppler data was
first enabled using F8 while the map was displayed in orthographic modes.
-Corrected a bug that caused Doppler data to appear on rectangular maps
if PgDn or PgUp keys were pressed when Doppler data was enabled.
-I removed the detection for Pentium chips that was present in some Beta
Test Versions. Due to a flaw in the detection algorithm, some 486DX2 and
486DX4 chips were incorrectly detected as a Pentium. STSPLUS now simply
indicates "486DX+" for 486 and higher chips.
-Modified the TARGET logic to show relative velocity betwen the Primary and
Target satellites when the relative range is less than 10,000 km. Users
should note that these are "line of sight" calculations and may be
misleading if the satellites are at large relative range. (Prior versions
limited display to low velocities and close approaches.)
-Changed date input subroutine (used with F8 from the Main Menu) to use the
current year as the default when a partial date is entered. For example,
the date may now be entered as "1/15" or "15.01" and the current year will
be used. Prior versions were hard coded to a specific year. Thanks to Russ
Nelson for the suggestion.
-Changed launch date/time input code (F5 from Main Menu) to automatically
enable MET when data is accepted.
-Corrected a problem with Pass Predictions (Altitude and Azimuth wrong!)
which crept into the Beta Test Versions. A position vector was not being
initialized. Thanks to George Sells for spotting and reporting the problem!
-Corrected a data misalignment with AOS/LOS data in rectangular mode when
"/CLK" command line option used and TDRS satellites set OFF. Thanks to Don
Nicholson for reporting the problem (several times).
-Updated current BBS information at the end of the documentation.
-By popular request, added the Bibliography of Astronomy and Space
Subjects, extracted from the documentation for my program ASTROCLK.