AstroForge Simulation Configuration

Overview

This file defines a simulation scenario for the AstroForge framework, modeling the motion of a spacecraft in Earth's orbit with applied thrust maneuvers. The configuration includes spacecraft properties, thrust maneuvers, ground stations, and data generation parameters.

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File Structure

The configuration consists of the following sections:

• Central Body: Defines the central celestial body (Earth in this case).
• Maneuvers: Specifies thrust maneuvers for the spacecraft.
• Stations: Lists ground stations for observation.
• Scenario: Defines the simulation duration, time step, and stations.
• Agents: Specifies the spacecraft and its parameters.
• Genes: Defines data generation parameters for optimization.
• Forge: Configures AstroForge for simulation output and data handling.

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Configuration Details

1. Central Body

Defines the gravitational body:

central_body: &earth !Earth
  flattening_bool: False

• flattening_bool: If True, accounts for Earth's oblateness.

2. Maneuvers

Defines thrust maneuvers applied to the spacecraft:

manuevers:
  - &manuever1 !ThrustManuever
    magnitude: -0.001 # km/s
    direction_ric: [0.0, 1.0, 0.0]
    execution_time:
      days: 2
    execution_duration:
      minutes: 1

• magnitude: Change in velocity (delta-V) in km/s.
• direction_ric: Direction in the Radial-Intrack-Crosstrack (RIC) frame.
• execution_time: When the maneuver occurs.
• execution_duration: How long the thrust is applied.

3. Stations

Defines ground stations for tracking:

stations:
    - &arecibo !Station
      name: 'Arecibo'
      lat_long_alt: [18.344, -66.752, 0.0]
      minimum_elevation_angle: 15.0
      identity: 0

• lat_long_alt: Latitude, longitude, and altitude of the station.
• minimum_elevation_angle: Minimum tracking angle in degrees.

4. Scenario

Configures the simulation environment:

scenario: &scenario !Scenario
  central_body: *earth
  start_time: "2025-01-15T12:30:00"
  duration:
    days: 10
  dt:
    seconds: 30
  name: 'Base'
  stations: [*arecibo]

• start_time: Start time of the simulation.
• duration: Total simulation time.
• dt: Time step in seconds.

5. Agents (Spacecraft)

Defines spacecraft properties:

agents:
  - &sat1 !Spacecraft
    name: "GEO_Sat1_nominal"
    start_time: "2025-01-15T12:30:00"
    state: !OrbitalElements
              sma: 42164
              ecc: 0.0
              inc: 0.0001
              arg: 0.0
              raan: 0.0
              nu: 180.0
    dt:
      seconds: 30
    duration:
      days: 3
    coefficient_of_drag: 2.0
    mass: 150.0 # kg
    area: 2.0 # m^2
    dynamics: ['kepler']
    scenario: *scenario
    manuevers: [*manuever1]

• state: Initial orbital elements (semi-major axis, eccentricity, etc.).
• dynamics: Defines motion model (kepler for Keplerian orbits).
• manuevers: List of applied maneuvers.

6. Genes (Data Generation Parameters)

Defines the range of parameters per spacecraft:

gene_magnitude: &gene_magnitude !Gene
  attribute: 'magnitude'
  magnitude_min: -0.001
  magnitude_max: 0.001
  samples: 5
  agent_base: *sat1

• attribute: The parameter being changed (e.g., magnitude).
• samples: Number of samples for genetic variation.
• agent_base: The spacecraft associated with this gene.
• <attribute>_min: The lower bound of the parameter to be changed in the base agent. The name before the underscore must be consistent with the attribute field.
• <attribute>_max: The upper bound of the parameter to be changed in the base agent. The name before the underscore must be consistent with the attribute field.

7. Forge (Simulation Output Configuration)

Defines output data types and storage:

forge:
  !AstroForge
  name: "AstroForge"
  scenario: *scenario
  genes: *genes
  data_types:
     - 'RA_DEG'
     - 'DEC_DEG'
     - 'RANGE_KM'
     - 'RANGE_RATE_KMS'
     - 'AZ_DEG'
     - 'EL_DEG'
  plots: ['orbital_elements','orbit','ground_track']
  output_directory: 'examples/results/AstroForgeExample'
  output_types: ['csv', 'h5']

• data_types: Defines what data is recorded (e.g., position, velocity, range).
• plots: Types of plots generated.
• output_directory: Where results are stored.
• output_types: Output formats (csv, h5).

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Running the Simulation

To run this configuration, execute AstroForge with the provided config file:

forge --infile examples/forge_example.yaml

Optional run in parallel

forge --infile examples/forge_example.yaml --parallel <number_of_cores>

Ensure that:

• python-propagate is installed in editable mode. (ie. pip install -e .)
• The configuration file is correctly formatted.

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Output Files

Results will be stored in examples/results/AstroForgeExample/ and may include:

• CSV Files: Numerical output for analysis. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR LARGE RUNS
• HDF5 Files (.h5): Structured data for further processing. RECOMMENDED FOR LARGE RUNS
• Plots: Visualizations of orbits and elements.

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Todos

2. Add TLE option to agent state
3. Gravity field model
4. Need to add a minimum apparent magnitude that a station can measure a satellite flux
5. Added sensors as object
6. Workflows and testing
7. Change the orientaion of arrays in filters (make it so sigma points etc are n, nx) Make it easier to inetrate over