Spacecraft.ContactTimes(PointGroup, TimeSpanArray, Array) Method

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Description

Contact is determined when contactPointGroup's line of sight to the Spacecraft is above contactPointGroup's elevation angle. Only the first point in the PointGroup is used for this analysis.

 

Timing Precision Mode

This page describes functionality in nanosecond timing precision mode.

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

 

Note: This is an interval method. See the Interval Methods page for more information.

Note: This method has a state. See the Methods and Properties with State page for more information.

 

Method Signature

Spacecraft.ContactTimes(

PointGroup contactPointGroup,

TimeSpanArray EventTime,

Array EventType)

 

 

Arguments

contactPointGroup

Description:

PointGroup whose first point defines the cone of contact.

 

 

EventTime

Description:

The time that the event occurred.

 

The FF_Preferences.IntervalEventReportingBehavior property controls whether the start of propagation is reported as an event. By default, if contact starts before the beginning of the propagation span, FreeFlyer will label the start of the propagation as the start of contact.

 

 

EventType

Description:

The type of the event that occurred. Event Type == 1 is entry into Contact. Event Type == 2 is exit from Contact.

 

 

 

Return Value

Type:

number

 

 

Returns the number of elements filled into EventType and EventTime arrays

 

Syntax

myVariable1 = mySpacecraft1.ContactTimes(myPointGroup1, myTimeSpanArray1, myArray1);

 

 

Example 1

This example demonstrates how to generate a report of a Spacecraft's contact times with a PointGroup.

 

Spacecraft Spacecraft1;

PointGroup PointGroup1;

 

Variable i;

Variable numEvents;

TimeSpanArray EventTime;

Array EventType;

String pgEventType;

String pgEventTime;

DataTableWindow PGReport({pgEventType, pgEventTime});

 

While (Spacecraft1.ElapsedTime < TIMESPAN(1 days));

 

          numEvents = Spacecraft1.ContactTimes(PointGroup1, EventTime, EventType);

 

          If(numEvents > 0) then;

                      For i = 0 to numEvents - 1 step 1;

                                  Switch (EventType[i]);

                                              Case 1:

                                                          pgEventType = "Entry into Contact: ";

                                                          pgEventTime = EventTime[i].ConvertToCalendarDate();

                                                          Update PGReport;

                                                          Break;

                                              Case 2:

                                                          pgEventType = "Exit from Contact: ";

                                                          pgEventTime = EventTime[i].ConvertToCalendarDate();

                                                          Update PGReport;

                                  End;

                      End;

          End;

 

          Step Spacecraft1;

 

End;

 

 

Output:

 

pgEventType

pgEventTime

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Entry into Contact:

Exit from Contact:

Jan 01 2020 01:03:17.900390625

Jan 01 2020 01:16:58.286132812

Jan 01 2020 02:42:14.326171875

Jan 01 2020 02:55:54.711914062

Jan 01 2020 04:21:10.751953125

Jan 01 2020 04:34:51.137695312

Jan 01 2020 06:00:07.250976562

Jan 01 2020 06:13:47.636718750

Jan 01 2020 07:39:03.750000000

Jan 01 2020 07:52:44.282226562

Jan 01 2020 09:18:00.322265625

Jan 01 2020 09:31:40.927734375

Jan 01 2020 10:56:56.894531250

Jan 01 2020 11:10:37.353515625

Jan 01 2020 12:35:53.393554687

Jan 01 2020 12:49:33.779296875

Jan 01 2020 14:14:49.819335937

Jan 01 2020 14:28:30.131835937

Jan 01 2020 15:53:46.245117187

Jan 01 2020 16:07:26.630859375

Jan 01 2020 17:32:42.670898437

Jan 01 2020 17:46:23.129882812

Jan 01 2020 19:11:39.169921875

Jan 01 2020 19:25:19.628906250

Jan 01 2020 20:50:35.742187500

Jan 01 2020 21:04:16.201171875

Jan 01 2020 22:29:32.314453125

Jan 01 2020 22:43:12.700195312

 

 

 

See also

Spacecraft Object

Spacecraft.ContactTimes

Spacecraft Propagation Guide

Coverage and Contact Analysis Guide