Orbital calculators

• Earth orbits - https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/earth-orbit
• Calculate rocket change in velocity (delta-v) – https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/delta-v
• Escape velocity – https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/escape-velocity
• Hohmann transfer calculator – https://www.omnicalculator.com/physics/hohmann-transfer
• Orbit transfer calculator – https://www.satsig.net/orbit-research/delta-v-geo-injection-calculator.htm
• Orbital decay calculator – http://www.lizard-tail.com/isana/lab/orbital_decay/
• GitHub's list of orbital mechanics codes: https://github.com/topics/orbital-mechanics

RF Communication calculators

• Link budget – https://www.satsig.net/linkbugt.htm
• Communication terminal primer – https://www.satsig.net/vsat_top.htm
• Satellite ground track visualizer – https://observablehq.com/@jake-low/satellite-ground-track-visualizer
• Earth coverage by satellite – https://www.analyzemath.com/Geometry_calculators/earth-coverage-by-satellites.html or https://faculty.nps.edu/awashburn/Files/Notes/EARTHCOV.pdf
• Visible surface of a sphere – http://www.neoprogrammics.com/spheres/visible_fraction_of_surface.php
• Optimal coverings of a sphere (spherical covering problem, like the Tammes problem) – http://neilsloane.com/packings/ and https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/4580272/covering-the-surface-of-a-sphere-with-circles-with-least-overlap or https://mathoverflow.net/questions/435078/minimal-overlap-required-to-cover-a-sphere-with-caps-is-greater-than-expected-fo
• Some Massive MIMO satellite communications papers: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2002.08148.pdf, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2008.05343.pdf, https://repository.gatech.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/48324eef-920b-4346-a327-ebaca92a9ba5/content

Resources for the design of CubeSats and SmallSats

• CubeSat resources: https://www.cubesat.org/cubesatinfo
• GlobalSpec: https://insights.globalspec.com/article/11912/how-to-develop-a-cubesat-from-concept-to-earth-orbit
• New Space Economy: https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2023/05/29/cubesat-design-basics-small-satellites-with-big-potential/
• https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/15/3110
• MatLab resources: https://www.mathworks.com/help/aeroblks/model-and-simulate-cubesats.html
• Simulation-to-Flight: http://www.stf1.com/simulation.php
• NASA's SmallSat resources: https://www.nasa.gov/smallsat-institute/space-mission-design-tools/
• NASA's SmallSat simulator on GitHub: https://github.com/nasa/nos3

Miscellaneous calculators of interest

• A great resource for calculating the motion of things in space: Kerbal Space Program - https://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com
• Artificial gravity calculator – https://nexusaurora.org/calculators/rotational-gravity/
• Habitat quick calculator – https://nexusaurora.org/calculators/habitat-designer/
• “Large Constellations of Low-Altitude Satellites: A Primer” – https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59175
• Satellite attitude control tool “42” on GitHub: https://github.com/ericstoneking/42
• Starship articles/resources: https://newspaceeconomy.ca/spacex-starship/

Mentorship

Space Technology & Aeronautical Rocketry (STAR) offers mentorship to student teams participating in our hackathon. (Feel free to reach out to Team STAR for mentorship via starlabsurat@gmail.com)