Generating realistic two-line element sets for notional space vehicles and constellations

Abstract

As space becomes increasingly populated with new satellites and systems, modeling and simulation of existing and future systems becomes more important. The two-line element set has been the standard format for sharing data about a satellite’s orbit since the 1960s, and well-developed algorithms can predict the future location of satellites based on these data. In order to simulate potential future systems, especially when mixed with existing systems, data must be generated to represent the desired orbits. We present a means to create two-line element sets with parameters that closely resemble real satellite behavior and rely on a novel approach to calculate the mean motion for even greater accuracy.