Construction of an Interactive Geometric Model of a Spacecraft’s Outer Surface

Abstract

This paper presents an approach to construct an interactive geometric model of a spacecraft’s outer surface for solving different applied problems related to the computation of integrals over the spacecraft’s surface, with the determination of the visibility of the surface parts taking into account their mutual overlapping, and with the determination of the surface projection on an arbitrary plane at the prescribed projection. The surface is represented by the set of geometric primitives; it is possible to add/remove elements and simulate moving elements of structure (antennas, manipulators, and solar panels). This approach is implemented as a program module used in complexes of mathematical modeling for computing the forces and moments of light pressure and aerodynamic drag, modeling the operation of spacecraft solar panels and the thermal modes, and modeling the diffraction of electromagnetic waves on the spacecraft’s surface. An example where geometric model is used for computing the forces and moments of aerodynamic drag acting on the spacecraft in flight is presented.