CoordinateSystem Object

Description

CoordinateSystems can be used to set the orientation of ThreeDModels, ProximityZones, Sensors, and Spacecraft objects. CoordinateSystem objects can be built using two vectors, a direction cosine matrix, Euler angles, quaternions, a chain of existing coordinate systems, or using the Body Coordinate System of Spacecraft, CelestialObject, or Sensor objects. See the Vectors and Coordinate Systems Guide for more information.

Inheritance Hierarchy: Object->CoordinateSystem

Available In Editions:

Engineer

Mission

Timing Precision Mode

This page describes functionality in millisecond timing precision mode. Millisecond timing precision mode is deprecated and will be removed in a future release. We recommend that you migrate your Mission Plans to nanosecond timing precision mode.

Click here to see the documentation for this object in nanosecond timing precision mode.

Name	Description	Attributes
CentralBody	The celestial object which defines the origin for the position of the CoordinateSystem.	Type: String Access: Read/Write
CentralBodyObject	The celestial object which defines the origin for the position of the CoordinateSystem.	Type: CelestialObject Access: Read-Only
CoordinateSystemType	The type of Coordinate System.	Type: Variable Access: Read/Write
DeclaredName	The name of the object as declared.	Type: String Access: Read-Only
Epoch	For CoordinateSystem objects built on vectors which are relative to the position of bodies that move in space over time, the Epoch property indicates the time at which the CoordinateSystem is defined or re-evaluated. The Epoch property can therefore serve as a means for updating a time-dependent coordinate system. To model a coordinate system that rotates in time, the CoordinateSystem object should be updated any time the spacecraft state is updated. Setting the Epoch property to the spacecraft (or celestial object) epoch will "re-evaluate" both the coordinate system and the underlying vectors used to build the coordinate system for the "current" epoch. Therefore, the user should add a line inside the control loop of the script to synchronize the Coordinate System with the Spacecraft, such as CoordinateSystem1.Epoch = Spacecraft1.Epoch; The Epoch property can also be set to a time, in GSFC MJD Format.	Type: Variable Access: Read/Write Units: day
Name	The name displayed for this object in output windows such as views, plots, and reports.	Type: String Access: Read/Write
ObjectId	The unique identifier for the object.	Type: Variable Access: Read-Only
ObjectType	The type of the object.	Type: String Access: Read-Only
Vector1Axis	Number or Variable that specifies which axis of the coordinate system (1 = X-axis, 2 = Y-axis, or 3 = Z-axis) will be defined by vector1. Vector1 will always be colinear with the axis specified by the vector1Axis property. The next axis is computed using the cross product of the two vectors. A third vector is computed using the cross product of the first two axes, and vector2Axis specifies which axis of the new coordinate system (X, Y, or Z) will be defined by this new vector. If vector1 and vector2 are orthogonal, then vector2 will be colinear with the axis specified by the vector2Axis property. Example 1: CoordinateSystem1.BuildCoordinateSystem(1, EastVector, 3, ZenithVector); The X-axis of the new coordinate system is defined by EastVector. The Y-axis is defined by Y = CrossProduct(ZenithVector, EastVector). The Z-axis is defined by Z = CrossProduct(EastVector, Y). Note that Z does not necessarily equal ZenithVector. Example 2: CoordinateSystem1.BuildCoordinateSystem(3, ZenithVector, 1, EastVector); The Z-axis of the new coordinate system is defined by ZenithVector. The Y-axis is defined by Y = CrossProduct(ZenithVector, EastVector). The X-axis is defined by X = CrossProduct(Y, ZenithVector). Note that X does not necessarily equal EastVector.	Type: Variable Access: Read/Write
Vector2Axis	Number or Variable that specifies which axis (X, Y, or Z) will be defined by vector2 in the cross product calculation with vector1. Vector1 will always be colinear with the axis specified by the vector1Axis property. The next axis is computed using the cross product of the two vectors. A third vector is computed using the cross product of the first two axes, and vector2Axis specifies which axis of the new coordinate system (X, Y, or Z) will be defined by this new vector. If vector1 and vector2 are orthogonal, then vector2 will be colinear with the axis specified by the vector2Axis property. Example 1: CoordinateSystem1.BuildCoordinateSystem(1, EastVector, 3, ZenithVector); The X-axis of the new coordinate system is defined by EastVector. The Y-axis is defined by Y = CrossProduct(ZenithVector, EastVector). The Z-axis is defined by Z = CrossProduct(EastVector, Y). Note that Z does not necessarily equal ZenithVector. Example 2: CoordinateSystem1.BuildCoordinateSystem(3, ZenithVector, 1, EastVector); The Z-axis of the new coordinate system is defined by ZenithVector. The Y-axis is defined by Y = CrossProduct(ZenithVector, EastVector). The X-axis is defined by X = CrossProduct(Y, ZenithVector). Note that X does not necessarily equal EastVector.	Type: Variable Access: Read/Write
VisualScale	The size at which to represent the CoordinateSystem when viewed in a Mission View.	Type: Variable Access: Read/Write Units: km
X	Cartesian x coordinate of the origin of the Coordinate System.	Type: Variable Access: Read-Only Units: km
Y	Cartesian y coordinate of the origin of the Coordinate System.	Type: Variable Access: Read-Only Units: km
Z	Cartesian z coordinate of the origin of the Coordinate System.	Type: Variable Access: Read-Only Units: km

Name	Description
BuildCoordinateSystem	Uses the specified input arguments to set the origin and attitude matrix information for the custom Coordinate System.
ClearSavedStates	Clears previous saved states for this object.
FixedVectorToObject	Returns an Array containing the components of the vector originating at the location of the prefix object and terminating at the location of the argument object, in the body fixed coordinate frame of the prefix object.
GetAttitudeMatrix	Retrieves the attitude matrix held within the CoordinateSystem object.
GetEulerAngles	Retrieves a set of Euler Angles that reflect the AttitudeMatrix held within the CoordinateSystem object.
GetFromFile	Load the object state from the specified FreeFlyer object file.
GetFromString	Load the object state from the specified string.
GetQuaternion	Retrieves the quaternion that reflects the AttitudeMatrix held within the CoordinateSystem object.
PutToFile	Convert the object state to FreeFlyer object xml and write to a file.
PutToString	Convert the object state to FreeFlyer object xml and return as a string.
ReferenceEquals	Returns 1 if the argument refers to the calling object and 0 otherwise.
ResetPositionVector	If a position vector has been specified, this sets it back to none.
Restore	Restore an object's state from a previously saved state.
Save	Save the object's state so that it can be restored later.
SetAttitudeMatrix	Initializes the CoordinateSystem object using the orientation derived from the Direction-Cosine-Matrix.
SetEulerAngles	Initializes the CoordinateSystem object using the orientation derived from the Euler Angles.
SetPositionVector	Sets the position of the CoordinateSystem relative to the Central Body.
SetQuaternion	Initializes the CoordinateSystem object using the orientation specified by the quaternion.
VectorToObject	Returns an Array containing the components of the vector originating at the location of the prefix object and terminating at the location of the argument object, in the ICRF.

Name

Description

Attributes

AttitudeMatrix11

The (1,1) component of the direction cosine matrix that moves a vector from the ICRF to the coordinate system represented by the calling CoordinateSystem object.