Innovative Graphics and Input Enhancements for the Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP)

The Aerospace Corporation Computer Science/Engineering, 2015-16

Liaison(s): Joe Betser, John Coggi, Dave Stodden
Advisor(s): Geoff Kuenning
Students(s): Zakkai Davidson (PM), Eric Caldwell, Christian Guerrero, Fabiha Hannan, Emily Stansbury

The Aerospace Corporation is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) that provides its Satellite Orbit Analysis Program (SOAP) to a variety of national security and space customers. This clinic project encapsulated a number of 3D rendering techniques in a digital globe framework that can be readily adapted for incorporation into SOAP and/or other OpenGL-based graphics software. The supported effects include real time weather data acquisition and visualization, terrain shadowing, smoke simulation, improved trajectory drawing, and realistic night and day transition.