Editing SimTX Guide/Satellites (section)

== Launch a satellite ==
# In the '''Stations''' tab, select '''Mine''' and press '''Launch satellite'''. The globe shows the orbit as you design it.
# '''Orbit''': choose a preset and adjust it (see below). Press '''Next: Payload'''.
# '''Payload''': set the antennas, radios, attitude, name, callsign and visibility. Press '''Next: Launch'''.
# '''Launch''': check the summary, tick '''Sealed after launch''' and press '''Launch satellite'''.

The new satellite's details open after the launch.

=== Orbit presets ===
[[File:SimTX Guide Satellites orbit step.webp|thumb|center|800px|alt=Launch a satellite, Orbit step: preset cards Space station, Sun-synchronous, Geostationary and Custom, the More orbits link, altitude and inclination sliders at 420 km and 51.6°, the starting point, and orbit time, speed, footprint radius and max Doppler; the globe shows the new orbit.|The Orbit step of Launch a satellite with the Space station preset, and the planned orbit on the globe.]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Preset !! Orbit
|-
| '''Space station''' || Low orbit at 420 km and 51.6° that passes over most of the world.
|-
| '''Sun-synchronous''' || Crosses each place at the same local time every day.
|-
| '''Geostationary''' || Stays over one longitude, about 35,800 km up.
|-
| '''Custom''' || Set altitude, shape and tilt yourself.
|-
| '''Polar''' || Passes over both poles and sees the whole Earth each day.
|-
| '''Equatorial''' || Stays over the tropics with frequent passes near the equator.
|-
| '''Molniya''' || Long, high loops that hang over high latitudes for hours.
|}

'''Polar''', '''Equatorial''' and '''Molniya''' are under '''More orbits'''. Editing a value that a preset fixes switches to '''Custom'''.

=== Orbit controls ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Control !! Meaning
|-
| '''Circular''', '''Elliptical''' || One altitude, or a '''Lowest point''' and '''Highest point''' with the highest point over the '''North''' or '''South'''.
|-
| '''Altitude''' || 200 to 40,000 km. Higher orbits are slower, see more of the Earth and stay in view longer, but the signal is weaker.
|-
| '''Inclination''' || The tilt against the equator: 0° stays over the equator, 90° crosses the poles, above 90° runs against the Earth's rotation. The track reaches north and south to the latitude of the inclination. Sun-synchronous sets it for you.
|-
| '''Parked over longitude''' || Geostationary: where the satellite stays. From a given place it is always in view or never.
|-
| '''Highest point over longitude''' || Molniya: where its high point hangs.
|-
| '''Starting point''' || Where the first orbit begins, '''Northbound''' or '''Southbound'''. '''Pick on globe''' or '''Over my station…''' places it.
|-
| '''Orbital elements''' || The orbit as numbers, for typing exact values. '''Back to guided controls''' returns to the controls.
|}

Beside the form, '''Orbit takes''', '''Speed''', '''Footprint radius''', '''Max Doppler''', '''Coverage''' and the passes per day over each of your ground stations update as you design. A warning appears if the orbit can't be flown.

=== Payload ===
[[File:SimTX Guide Satellites payload step.png|thumb|center|777px|alt=Payload step with a Turnstile antenna, a 5 W radio with a link check of -105 dBm, the attitude options Earth-pointing, Spinning and Fixed in space, a Yaw field, and Back and Next: Launch buttons.|The Payload step with one antenna, one radio with its link check, and the attitude choices.]]
{| class="wikitable"
! Section !! Contents
|-
| '''Antennas''' || One to four antennas, fixed to the body. '''Rotation on the body''' turns an antenna on the body.
|-
| '''Radios''' || Up to eight radios, each with a '''Power cap'''. Small satellites run 1 to 10 W. '''Link check''' estimates the signal at a ground station at 30° elevation on 437.8 MHz.
|-
| '''Attitude''' || '''Earth-pointing''' keeps one face down, with a '''Yaw''' angle. '''Spinning''' spins at a '''Spin rate''' around an axis chosen under '''Spins around'''. '''Fixed in space''' holds one direction among the stars.
|-
| '''Name and visibility''' || '''Name''', '''Callsign''', and '''Public''' or '''Unlisted'''. An unlisted satellite can only be used by you, but others still hear it transmit.
|}