JPL developed a precise wireframe simulator for the Voyager and Giotto space missions, equipped with animation functionality. This software is adaptable and meant for science and navigation applications. It has been featured by BBC and NOVA and is compatible with Windows/DOS.
GRANDTOUR is a software that allows users to simulate space as seen from the Voyager and Giotto spacecraft. The program enables the generation of scenes from any point in space or Earth, with the spacecraft observable to the observer. All the elements of interest, including planets, moons, and rings, are drawn with wireframe representations, as well as stars, the sun, and the spacecraft.
The software removes hidden lines from the body surfaces, and the motions of the bodies are precisely accurate. Consequently, errors are no greater than 500 kilometers. The user has a high degree of control over the time step, field of view, and other parameters, generating many frames per second.
The program was originally created at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory by John D. Callahan to aid in the analysis of science and optical navigation data. Additionally, this program was included in a NOVA documentary by the BBC on the Voyager Uranus encounter and by the Four Point Entertainment Company for a commercially available video on Halley's Comet.
The software conveniently runs on any Windows/DOS operating system, making it accessible to a broad range of users. Overall, GRANDTOUR is a reliable and user-friendly program that is perfect for individuals interested in the celestial world.
The software removes hidden lines from the body surfaces, and the motions of the bodies are precisely accurate. Consequently, errors are no greater than 500 kilometers. The user has a high degree of control over the time step, field of view, and other parameters, generating many frames per second.
The program was originally created at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory by John D. Callahan to aid in the analysis of science and optical navigation data. Additionally, this program was included in a NOVA documentary by the BBC on the Voyager Uranus encounter and by the Four Point Entertainment Company for a commercially available video on Halley's Comet.
The software conveniently runs on any Windows/DOS operating system, making it accessible to a broad range of users. Overall, GRANDTOUR is a reliable and user-friendly program that is perfect for individuals interested in the celestial world.
What's New
Version 4.1: N/A