orbit_translate, a script for fetching and converting TLE to SSC

[erikjber]

The orbits of many of the earth satellites included in Celestia are out of date. Especially low-flying satellites like the ISS are frequently in need of update, as atmospheric drag, dockings, and course corrections perturb the orbits.

To automate this task, I've created a python script that downloads the latest TLE data from CelesTrak and converts it to SSC data. This data can be piped or copied into a file.
The script makes it easy to automate the task of updating the orbits, for example daily or each time Celestia is started.

The orbit_translate script is based on the Excel spreadsheet by Grant Hutchison.

Here is the script:
https://github.com/erikjber/orbit_translate

CAUTION:
This has not been thoroughly tested. I welcome bug reports and feature requests. If you find anything that is wrong or annoying, please let me know so that I can fix it.

[Lafuente_Astronomy]

You can send a massage to the devs with regards to your contributions. I agree with you that the orbits need to be updated and improved. But I would suggest including the orbits of planets as well. I asked about that some time ago when I tried to see if a double transit of the Sun by Mercury and Venus which will happen in a really long time would be stimulated there. It didn't happen, so it had something to do with the orbits.

The devs are pirogronian and onetwothree.

[erikjber]

You can send a massage to the devs with regards to your contributions

I don't want to bother the devs with a minor thing like this.

But I would suggest including the orbits of planets as well.

That's an interesting suggestion. I would need a reliable source of planetary ephemeris. I'm not sure if my understanding of orbital mechanics is up to snuff, so there would be an element of learning involved.

[onetwothree]

Great!

erikjber, if you don't mind, we include it to our tools collection.

[erikjber]

if you don't mind, we include it to our tools collection.

I don't mind. In fact, I'm thrilled!