September 21, 2008

Version 0.4.0 Released

Version 0.4.0 of the General Astrodynamics Library has been released. It can be downloaded from the project website here:

http://homepage.mac.com/pclwillmott/GAL/index.html

Updates in this release:

Higher precision ephemerides for the Sun, Planets, and Pluto. Implemented using VSOP87. Heliocentric and barycentric routines for position and velocity provided.

Support added for classical Keplerian models, circular, ellipticals, parabolic, and hyperbolic orbits and trajectories supported. Keplerian propagation implemented using the Universal formulation.

Release includes some additional support files, and minor updates.

Work continues with the atmosphere, and remaining force models.

The General Astrodynamics Library (GAL) is a numerical library for C and C++ programmers. It is free software under the GNU General Public License.

The library provides a wide range of astrodynamical routines such as ephemerides, earth orientation, and orbit propagation. There are over 250 functions in total with an extensive test suite.

Paul Willmott, VP9MU
AMSAT-BDA