Maneuvers
The Maneuvers tab displays detected orbital maneuvers performed by the satellite.
Understanding Maneuvers
Orbital maneuvers are deliberate changes to a satellite’s orbit, typically performed using onboard thrusters. Maneuvers are detected by analyzing changes in orbital elements over time and identifying discontinuities that cannot be explained by natural orbital evolution.
Maneuvers Table
The table displays all detected maneuvers with the following information:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Event Time | When the maneuver was detected to have occurred |
| Status | Verification status of the maneuver detection |
| Magnitude | Total velocity change (delta-v) in meters per second |
| Radial | Velocity change toward/away from Earth’s center |
| In-Track | Velocity change along the direction of travel |
| Cross-Track | Velocity change perpendicular to the orbital plane |
| Detected | When the maneuver was identified by the system |
Maneuver Status
Each maneuver has a verification status:
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Verified | Maneuver has been confirmed through multiple data sources or analyst review |
| Unverified | Maneuver has been detected but not yet confirmed |
| Rejected | Detection was determined to be a false positive |
Status Filter
Use the status dropdown to filter the table:
- All - Show all detected maneuvers
- Verified - Show only confirmed maneuvers
- Unverified - Show maneuvers pending verification
- Rejected - Show rejected detections
Understanding Maneuver Components
Magnitude
The total magnitude represents the overall velocity change (delta-v) required for the maneuver. Larger values indicate more significant orbital changes.
Radial Component
Radial maneuvers change the orbit’s shape (eccentricity) and altitude:
- Positive radial - Thrust away from Earth
- Negative radial - Thrust toward Earth
In-Track Component
In-track maneuvers are the most common type and primarily affect orbital period and phase:
- Positive in-track (prograde) - Raises the orbit
- Negative in-track (retrograde) - Lowers the orbit
Cross-Track Component
Cross-track maneuvers change the orbital plane:
- Used for inclination changes
- Used for RAAN adjustments
- Generally the most expensive in terms of fuel
Use Cases
Maneuver detection supports:
- Operational awareness - Understanding when and how satellites change their orbits
- Pattern analysis - Identifying station-keeping schedules or operational patterns
- Collision avoidance - Recognizing when satellites maneuver in response to conjunction warnings
- Tracking maintenance - Knowing when orbital elements need updating after a maneuver
Limitations
- Detection relies on sufficient observation data before and after the maneuver
- Small maneuvers may not be detectable if they fall within normal tracking uncertainty
- Timing precision depends on observation cadence around the event