Introduction
SSG Tether Capture is a real-time simulation built with Bevy that models the capture of orbital debris using space tethers. It combines Keplerian orbital mechanics, rigid-body physics, and 3D Earth visualization into a single interactive application.
What it does
- Propagates orbits — satellites, debris, and tether systems are positioned using Keplerian propagation driven by TLE data or classical orbital elements (COE).
- Simulates tether dynamics — a configurable multi-joint tether is modelled as a chain of rigid bodies using Avian3D physics.
- Renders in real time — a 3D Earth scene with atmospheric scattering, a 2D orbital map view, and a separate UI layer all run simultaneously via Bevy's render layer system.
- Supports time warp — simulation time can be scaled up or down through a
WorldTimeresource, useful for fast-forwarding orbital periods.
Key capabilities
| Capability | Detail |
|---|---|
| Orbital propagation | Per-entity Keplerian propagation via brahe |
| Orbit initialisation | TLE string, classical orbital elements, or raw position/velocity |
| Tether physics | Multi-joint rigid body chain (Avian3D) |
| Camera | Orbit camera with scene/map view toggle |
| UI | Bevy-native UI — project catalogue, project detail screen |
| Rendering | KTX2 textures, atmospheric scattering, HDR skybox, post-process bloom |
Where to go next
- Prerequisites — what you need installed before running the app
- Running the App — how to build and launch
- Architecture Overview — how the major systems fit together