Quick Start Guide

Basic Usage

  1. Import the library

from pyRTX.classes import SunShadow, SolarPressure
from pyRTX.classes import Spacecraft
import spiceypy as sp

  1. Set up your spacecraft

# Load your spacecraft geometry
spacecraft = Spacecraft(
    name='MySpacecraft',
    mesh_file='path/to/mesh.obj',
    mass=1000.0  # kg
)

  1. Calculate solar radiation pressure

# Create SRP calculator
srp = SolarPressure(
    spacecraft=spacecraft,
    baseflux=1361.5  # W/m² at 1 AU
)

# Compute at an epoch
epoch = sp.str2et('2024-01-01T12:00:00')
acceleration = srp.compute(epoch)

  1. Calculate eclipses

# Create shadow calculator
shadow = SunShadow(
    spacecraft=spacecraft,
    body='Moon',
    bodyRadius=1737.4
)

# Compute shadow ratio (0=total eclipse, 1=full sun)
shadow_ratio = shadow.compute(epoch)

Next Steps

  • See the API Reference for detailed API documentation

  • Check the examples for more complex use cases