Julia Language Ephemeris and Physical Constants Reader for Solar System Bodies

Faculty Mentor Name

Kaela Martin, Damon Landau

Format Preference

Poster

Abstract

Julia is an open source dynamic programming language publicly released in 2012. One of the benefits to using Julia is its computational efficiency that exceeds other dynamic languages, such as MATLAB or Python, and almost matches that of static languages, such as FORTRAN or C. With these characteristics, Julia is a unique combination of a high-performing, interactive, and productive interface. Since 2012, the Julia language has been deployed in many fields including finance, optimization, and data science. Within the astrodynamics community, Julia does not have an ephemeris reader including major and small bodies. An ephemeris tool offers a convenient and accurate approach to navigation applications, including satellites and other means of space-flight. The Julia Language Ephemeris and Physical Constants Reader for Solar System Bodies is an ephemeris reader written in Julia and a new tool intended for astrodynamic use. The ephemeris reader acquires necessary data for mission design from public JPL websites and calculates positions, velocities, accelerations, and other characteristics of major and small bodies at any user-defined times using the extracted data. This project was presented and published at the AIAA SciTech conference in January 2018. The team expects to publish a second paper at the AAS/AIAA conference in January 2019 where the code will have a more optimized computation time and potential additional features of higher order gravity harmonics for major bodies and moons and asteroid modeling.

Poster Presentation

IGNITE Grant Award

Location

AC1-Atrium, Eagle Gym

Start Date

3-23-2018 11:00 AM

End Date

3-23-2018 9:00 PM

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Mar 23rd, 11:00 AM Mar 23rd, 9:00 PM

Julia Language Ephemeris and Physical Constants Reader for Solar System Bodies

AC1-Atrium, Eagle Gym

Julia is an open source dynamic programming language publicly released in 2012. One of the benefits to using Julia is its computational efficiency that exceeds other dynamic languages, such as MATLAB or Python, and almost matches that of static languages, such as FORTRAN or C. With these characteristics, Julia is a unique combination of a high-performing, interactive, and productive interface. Since 2012, the Julia language has been deployed in many fields including finance, optimization, and data science. Within the astrodynamics community, Julia does not have an ephemeris reader including major and small bodies. An ephemeris tool offers a convenient and accurate approach to navigation applications, including satellites and other means of space-flight. The Julia Language Ephemeris and Physical Constants Reader for Solar System Bodies is an ephemeris reader written in Julia and a new tool intended for astrodynamic use. The ephemeris reader acquires necessary data for mission design from public JPL websites and calculates positions, velocities, accelerations, and other characteristics of major and small bodies at any user-defined times using the extracted data. This project was presented and published at the AIAA SciTech conference in January 2018. The team expects to publish a second paper at the AAS/AIAA conference in January 2019 where the code will have a more optimized computation time and potential additional features of higher order gravity harmonics for major bodies and moons and asteroid modeling.

Poster Presentation

IGNITE Grant Award