GMAT
Some links for General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) for easy access. GMAT is a free tool provided by NASA for engineers to design trajectories and perform orbit determination. This page presents a general overview of GMAT as well as some lessons learned for my own benefit.
The most fundamental capability of GMAT is to propagate, or
simulate the orbital motion of, spacecraft. The ability to propagate
spacecraft is used in nearly every practical aspect of space mission
analysis, from simple orbital predictions (e.g. When will the
International Space Station be over my house?) to complex analyses that
determine the thruster firing sequence required to send a spacecraft to
the Moon or Mars.
Some basic understanding of orbital mechanics will be VERY HELPFUL. Please consult an astrodynamics book to build a foundation. GMAT is not a replacement for actually having this aerospace knowledge.
The full tutorial starts at Chapter 5 on the GMAT page. Assuming you're using the 2020 version, you can find the link as such after you install the software: http://gmat.sourceforge.net/docs/R2020a/html/Tutorials.html
Basic Assumptions
WIP
Links
User Guides
Downloads
