Module 1: GETTING THERE

Activity 4: MATHEMATICS

Directions: Review Spherical Coordinate Systems PDF and install Google Earth Pro. (see Resources section at

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the bottom of the page)

1. Use Google Earth to find the location of the coordinates in Table 1. Enter your coordinates in terms of
latitude and longitude. Remember that Google Earth divides the Earth into hemispheres with each being
only 180 degrees. (For example: latitude and longitude position -40°, 304° would be 40° S, 56° W in
Google Earth). Zoom in and attach a screen shot of the location. (2 points)

1. Use Google Earth to find Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Road 1, Houston, TX, and write in those
coordinates below. Also, write in the coordinates using NASA’s naming conventions for latitude and
longitude (which does not divide the Earth into hemispheres). (4 points)

Table 1 shows the position of the AFRC radar. NASA’s latitudinal radar readings are expressed in degrees
north of the equator, while longitudinal radar readings are expressed in degrees east of the prime meridian.
The AFRC radius is the distance from the center of the Earth to the AFRC itself.

Table 1: Radar Position

AFRC Latitude (φ) AFRC Longitude (λ) AFRC Radius (r)

deg deg km

34.9579806 242.0881222 6378.889

In order to complete the vector analysis, azimuth, elevation, and range are also required. Azimuth is the
horizontal angle of the radar measured clockwise from a line pointing due north. Elevation is the angle of the
radar above the local horizon. Range is the distance along the geometric line-of-sight from the radar to the
vehicle. Figure 3 is an illustration of these orbital terms.

NASA High School Aerospace Scholars

Module 1: GETTING THERE
Activity 4: MATHEMATICS

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Figure 3: Illustration of orbital terms

Directions: Show all work and justify your answers. Round all answers to the nearest thousandth and label
with the appropriate units.

3. The AFRC data found in Table 1 was used to determine the vector that represented the position
of the AFRC site with respect to the Earth’s center in terms of i, j, and k .

Conversion equations (spherical to Cartesian coordinates)

x = r cos φ cos λ
y = r cos φ sin λ
z = r sinφ
r = AFRC radius, φ = latitude, and λ = longitude

a. Find the x-coordinate of the AFRC. (6 points)

b. Find the y-coordinate of the AFRC. (6 points)

c. Find the z-coordinate of the AFRC. (6 points)

d. Write the Earth-centered vector, fec , in the form: fec = xi + yj + zk. (2 points)

NASA High School Aerospace Scholars

Module 1: GETTING THERE
Activity 4: MATHEMATICS

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4. The AFRC also collects data that can be used to determine the vector that represents the position of the
space shuttle with respect to the AFRC site in terms of i, j, and k, where El = elevation of the spacecraft,
Az = azimuth, and ρ = range. Table 2 below shows the spherical coordinates for the space shuttle’s position.

Table 2: Position of the space shuttle with respect to the AFRC

STS-131 AFRC STS-131 AFRC STS-131 AFRC

Elevation angle (El) Azimuth angle (Az) Range to target (ρ)
deg deg km
40.8300297 199.9850926 505.6889904

Note: Conversion equations (topodetic to Cartesian coordinates) relative to site located at (φ,λ)
Topodetic refers to a non-rotating frame of reference where the origin is the site location given by its longitude
and latitude.

x = − ρ cos( El ) cos( Az ) sin( φ ) cos( λ ) − ρ cos( El ) sin( Az ) sin( λ ) + ρ sin( El ) cos( φ ) cos( λ )
y =−ρcos(El)cos(Az)sin(φ)sin(λ)+ρcos(El)sin(Az)cos(λ)+ρsin(El)cos(φ)sin(λ)
z = ρcos(El)cos(Az)cos(φ)+ ρsin(El)sin(φ)

El = elevation angle, Az = azimuth angle, ρ = range φ = latitude, and λ = longitude

a. Find the x-coordinate of the space shuttle’s position relative to AFRC. (6 points)

b. Find the y-coordinate of the space shuttle’s position relative to AFRC. (6 points)

c. Find the z-coordinate of the space shuttle’s position relative to AFRC. (6 points)

a. Write the site-centered vector, sfc , in the form: sfc = xi + yj + zk . (2 points)

NASA High School Aerospace Scholars

Module 1: GETTING THERE
Activity 4: MATHEMATICS

5. With knowledge of the AFRC site position (fec) and the space shuttle position (sfc with respect to the AFRC),

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the Flight Dynamics Officer can determine the space shuttle’s position with respect to the Earth’s center using
vector addition. The resultant vector, sec , gives the position of the space shuttle with respect to the Earth’s
center. Find the Earth-centered position vector. (6 points)

6. Find the length of the space shuttle’s Earth-centered position vector. sec = x 2 +y2 +z2 (4 points)

7. The radius of Earth is 6378.137 km. Find the space shuttle’s distance above Earth’s surface. (4 points)

Resources:
• Google Earth Pro (free download)
• Spherical Coordinate Systems Reference (PDF)

NASA High School Aerospace Scholars