Modeling ICBM Trajectories Around a Rotating Globe with Systems Tool Kit

Abstract

In the April 2018 issue of TPT, Joseph Amato presented an analysis of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) trajectories as applied to recent test launches from North Korea. Using properties of their elliptical paths, he derived relationships between launch velocity, elevation angle, and maximum range. However, this approach cannot include the effects of Earth’s rotation, even though they should be significant for ICBM speeds ≈ 6 km/s and flight times ≈ 25 min. Here I use the aerospace industry software Systems Tool Kit (STK), freely available for school use, to model ICBM paths launched from various locations on a spinning globe. The results illustrate the effects of a rotating Earth on ballistic motion, while demonstrating STK’s utility as a simulation tool for educators and students.