🛰️ Sentinel - Space Traffic Management System

Real-time satellite tracking and collision prediction for a safer orbital environment

Live Demo • Documentation

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🌟 Overview

Sentinel is an advanced space traffic management system built for SkyHacks 2025. It provides real-time visualization and collision prediction for satellites and space debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), helping operators make critical decisions to avoid catastrophic collisions.

With the increasing density of satellites (60,000+ expected by 2030) and millions of debris fragments, Sentinel addresses the urgent need for intelligent space traffic monitoring through an intuitive, aerospace-themed interface.

✨ Key Features

• 🌍 Real-time 3D Visualization: Interactive globe with 260 satellites and 1,500 debris objects
• ⚡ Collision Prediction: Stochastic multi-hazard detection with dual severity levels
• 🎯 Smart Maneuver Suggestions: Delta-V calculations and automatic alert broadcasting
• ⏱️ Time Travel: Sub-second precision time scrubbing (past/future simulation)
• 🎨 Aerospace UI Design: Modern futuristic interface with glassmorphism effects
• 📊 Multi-tier Warnings: CRITICAL (direct collision) vs MODERATE (proximity pass)
• 🛸 Satellite-on-Satellite Detection: Rare but catastrophic collision scenarios
• 🔄 Real-time Updates: Dynamic threat assessment with countdown timers
• 🎓 Training Simulator: Standalone simulation environment for mission control training
• 🎯 SVG-Based Icons: High-quality scalable icons for all UI elements

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🎥 Demo

Landing Page

Beautiful Material You design with 3D wireframe globe and smooth animations.

Main Interface

• Left Panel: Search, sort, collision warnings, maneuver suggestions
• Center: Interactive 3D globe with orbital paths
• Right Panel: Satellite info, mission briefs, ground station passes
• Bottom: Time scrubber and collision alert strip

Collision Warning Example

🛡️ PROXIMITY ALERTS (6)
├── 🛰️ ISS (ZARYA) - SAT-COLLISION - 0.05 km - T-00:12:34
├── 🛡️ FRAGMENT-COSMOS-4521 - CRITICAL - 2.15 km - T-00:45:12
├── 🛡️ SHARD-FENGYUN-7834 - CRITICAL - 3.87 km - T-01:23:45
├── ⚠️ CHUNK-DELTA-2156 - MODERATE - 12.34 km - T-02:15:30
├── ⚠️ PARTICLE-PROTON-9823 - MODERATE - 24.56 km - T-03:42:18
└── ⚠️ SPLINTER-ARIANE-5621 - MODERATE - 38.21 km - T-04:55:00

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🛠️ Technology Stack

Frontend

• React 18 - Modern UI framework with hooks
• Vite 5.4.21 - Lightning-fast build tool and dev server
• React Three Fiber - React renderer for Three.js R128
• @react-three/drei - 3D scene helpers (OrbitControls, Billboard, etc.)
• Framer Motion - Declarative animations and transitions
• GSAP - High-performance timeline animations
• Axios - HTTP client for API communication
• Material Symbols - Google icon set

Backend

• Node.js 18+ - JavaScript runtime
• Express.js - Lightweight REST API framework
• CORS - Cross-origin resource sharing middleware
• Static Data Generation - Pre-computed orbital elements

3D Graphics & Visualization

• Three.js R128 - WebGL-based 3D rendering engine
• OrbitControls - Camera manipulation with zoom/pan/rotate
• Billboard Sprites - Camera-facing satellite markers
• Wireframe Geometry - Low-poly globe visualization

Physics & Mathematics

• Keplerian Orbital Mechanics - Two-body satellite propagation
• Stochastic Collision Modeling - Probabilistic debris generation
• GMST Calculations - Greenwich Mean Sidereal Time for Earth rotation
• Delta-V Calculations - Maneuver cost estimation
• ECI Coordinate System - Earth-Centered Inertial reference frame

Design System

• Cascadia Code Font - Monospace aerospace aesthetic
• Glassmorphism UI - Frosted glass panels with backdrop blur
• Aerospace Theme - Custom color palette (#00C8FF primary, #006C99 secondary)
• SVG Icons - Scalable vector graphics replacing emojis
• Dark Theme - Eye-friendly for mission control operations

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🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

node >= 18.0.0
npm >= 9.0.0
git

Installation & Setup

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/atharvavdeo/Sentinel---SkyHacks25.git
cd Sentinel---SkyHacks25/orbital-guard

2. Install backend dependencies

cd backend
npm install

3. Install frontend dependencies

cd ../frontend
npm install --legacy-peer-deps

Note: --legacy-peer-deps resolves React 18 peer dependency conflicts

4. Generate orbital data (optional)

cd ../backend/scripts
node generate_keplerian.js

Pre-generated data is already included in backend/data/orbitalData.json

5. Start the backend server

Windows PowerShell:

cd ..\backend
node server.js

Linux/Mac:

cd ../backend
node server.js

Backend will start on http://localhost:3001

6. Start the frontend (new terminal)

cd frontend
npm run dev

Frontend will start on http://localhost:5173 (or next available port)

7. Access the application

• Main Tracker: http://localhost:5173
• Training Simulator: http://localhost:5173/index5.html

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🎯 Application Workflow

User Journey

1. Landing Page (Landing.jsx)

   • Animated 3D wireframe globe with GSAP spiral effects
   • Two main action buttons:
     • Launch Tracker → Main satellite tracking application
     • Open Simulation → Training environment (opens index5.html)

2. Main Tracker Interface (App.jsx)

   • Left Panel:

     • Search bar with satellite name autocomplete
     • Sort dropdown (Name/Hazards/Altitude)
     • Comparison statistics panel
     • Scrollable hazard list with severity indicators
     • Maneuver suggestion panel with Delta-V calculations

   • Center View:

     • Interactive 3D globe with Earth texture
     • Orbital paths for satellites
     • Billboard sprites for satellites and debris
     • Mouse controls (rotate, zoom, pan)

   • Right Panel:

     • Selected satellite information
     • Mission brief and specifications
     • Ground station pass predictions

   • Bottom Bar:

     • Time slider (bottom-right) with playback controls
     • Speed adjustment (0.0005x to 10x)
     • Collision alert strip showing active threats

3. Training Simulator (index5.html)

   • Standalone Three.js simulation
   • Mission control training scenarios
   • Aerospace-themed UI with Cascadia Code font
   • Real-time orbital mechanics demonstration

Core Workflows

Satellite Selection

User Action → Search/Click Satellite
    ↓
State Update → setSelectedSat()
    ↓
API Call → POST /api/predict-hazard
    ↓
UI Updates:
  - InfoPanel shows satellite details
  - HazardList displays collision warnings
  - ManeuverSuggestion calculates Delta-V
  - Orbital path renders in 3D
  - Camera focuses on satellite

Collision Detection

Backend Processing:
1. Load 260 satellites + 1500 debris
2. Stochastic assignment (18% collision probability)
3. Generate 4-10 debris per threatened satellite
4. Calculate distances (0.1-50 km)
5. Assign severity:
   - CRITICAL: < 5 km (red)
   - MODERATE: 5-50 km (orange)
   - SAT-COLLISION: satellite-on-satellite (purple)

Frontend Display:
1. Sort by severity (SAT > CRITICAL > MODERATE)
2. Show countdown timers
3. Display SVG icons for each type
4. Update collision strip with top threats

Time Simulation

User Adjusts TimeSlider
    ↓
currentTime State Updates
    ↓
Position Recalculation (throttled 2s):
  - propagateKeplerian() for each object
  - GMST calculation for Earth rotation
  - Hazard distance updates
    ↓
3D Scene Re-render:
  - Update satellite positions
  - Update orbital paths
  - Update debris positions

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📊 Features Deep Dive

1. Stochastic Collision System

• 18% probability each satellite has collision threats
• 4-10 debris per threatened satellite
• Dual severity: CRITICAL (0.1-5 km) vs MODERATE (5-50 km)
• Variable clusters: "Shotgun effect" for realistic scenarios

2. Satellite-on-Satellite Collisions

• 15 collision pairs out of 260 satellites
• Matching orbits (radius, inclination) within 0.05 radians
• Purple/red gradient styling to distinguish from debris
• Highest priority in warning lists

3. Maneuver Recommendations

Emergency Evasive (< 5km):
├── Delta-V: 15-20 m/s
├── Burn Duration: 37-50 seconds
└── Alert Level: CRITICAL

Preventive Adjustment (> 5km):
├── Delta-V: 2-5 m/s
├── Burn Duration: 5-12 seconds
└── Alert Level: ADVISORY

4. Time Scrubbing

• Speed: 0.0005x - 10x real-time
• Precision: Sub-second accuracy
• Range: ±24 hours from current time
• Throttled Updates: Position recalculation every 2 seconds

5. Search & Filter

• Fuzzy search by satellite name
• Sort by: Name, Hazard count, Altitude
• Type detection: GPS, Communication, Weather, Scientific, etc.
• Debris toggle: Show/hide debris objects

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🎯 Use Cases

Mission Control Operators

• Monitor satellite fleet health
• Track collision threats in real-time
• Plan avoidance maneuvers
• Coordinate with other operators

Space Agencies

• Track debris evolution
• Assess collision risks
• Plan deorbiting missions
• Generate safety reports

Researchers

• Study orbital dynamics
• Analyze collision statistics
• Test avoidance strategies
• Simulate scenarios

Educators

• Teach orbital mechanics
• Demonstrate Keplerian motion
• Visualize space debris problem
• Engage students with interactive 3D

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🔄 Development Workflow

Making Changes

1. Modify Frontend:

cd frontend/src/components
# Edit React components
# Changes hot-reload automatically in browser

2. Modify Backend:

cd backend
# Edit server.js or physics modules
# Restart server: Ctrl+C, then node server.js

3. Update Orbital Data:

cd backend/scripts
node generate_keplerian.js
# Generates new orbitalData.json with collision scenarios

4. Test Changes:

# Frontend: Changes reflect immediately with Vite HMR
# Backend: Check terminal for API logs
# Browser: Open DevTools Console for errors

Git Workflow

# Check status
git status

# Stage changes
git add .

# Commit with descriptive message
git commit -m "feat: Add new collision detection algorithm"

# Push to GitHub
git push origin main

# Pull latest changes
git pull origin main

Common Tasks

Add New Satellite Type:

1. Edit backend/scripts/generate_keplerian.js
2. Add satellite name to appropriate array
3. Run node generate_keplerian.js
4. Restart backend server

Customize UI Colors:

1. Edit frontend/src/styles/theme.css
2. Update CSS variables (--primary-color, etc.)
3. Changes apply immediately via Vite HMR

Add New UI Component:

1. Create file in frontend/src/components/UI/
2. Import in App.jsx
3. Add to layout structure
4. Style with glassmorphism classes

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🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Backend not starting:

# Check if port 3001 is in use
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 3001

# Kill existing process
$port = Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 3001 -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -ExpandProperty OwningProcess
if ($port) { Stop-Process -Id $port -Force }

# Restart backend
cd backend
node server.js

Frontend build errors:

# Clear node_modules and reinstall
cd frontend
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force node_modules
npm install --legacy-peer-deps

3D scene not rendering:

• Check browser console for WebGL errors
• Ensure GPU acceleration is enabled
• Try different browser (Chrome recommended)

Time slider not visible:

• Check if positioned correctly (right: 50px)
• Verify TimeSlider.jsx is imported in App.jsx
• Check browser width (responsive layout)

Satellites not moving:

• Ensure backend is running (check console logs)
• Verify data fetched successfully (Network tab)
• Check currentTime state is updating

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Key Components:

• 3D Rendering: React Three Fiber with Three.js R128
• Physics Engine: Keplerian orbital propagation
• UI Framework: React 18 with Framer Motion animations
• Data Generation: Stochastic collision scenario generator
• API Layer: Express REST endpoints with CORS
• State Management: React hooks (useState, useEffect, useMemo)

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📈 Technical Highlights

Performance Metrics

• Initial Load: < 2 seconds for full application
• 3D Rendering: Stable 60 FPS with 1,760 objects
• Search Speed: < 50ms for fuzzy search across 260 satellites
• Collision Detection: < 100ms per satellite query
• Position Updates: Throttled to every 2 seconds (prevents frame drops)
• Memory Usage: Efficient with useMemo for expensive calculations

Key Technologies Used

Frontend Stack:
- React 18.3.1          (UI framework)
- Vite 5.4.21           (Build tool)
- Three.js R128         (3D graphics)
- @react-three/fiber    (React renderer for Three.js)
- @react-three/drei     (3D helpers)
- Framer Motion 11.11   (Animations)
- GSAP                  (Timeline animations)
- Axios                 (HTTP client)

Backend Stack:
- Node.js 18+           (Runtime)
- Express 4.x           (Web framework)
- CORS                  (Cross-origin support)

Development Tools:
- Git                   (Version control)
- npm                   (Package management)
- PowerShell            (Windows terminal)

Unique Features

1. Dual Application Modes:

   • Main Tracker: Full-featured React application
   • Training Simulator: Lightweight standalone HTML

2. Smart Collision Prediction:

   • Stochastic modeling with realistic probabilities
   • Three severity levels (SAT-COLLISION, CRITICAL, MODERATE)
   • Time-to-collision countdowns
   • Automatic Delta-V maneuver calculations

3. Time Manipulation:

   • Play/pause simulation
   • Speed adjustment (0.0005x to 10x)
   • Scrub through ±24 hours
   • Real-time position propagation

4. Professional UI:

   • Cascadia Code monospace font
   • SVG-based icon system
   • Glassmorphism panels
   • Aerospace color palette
   • Responsive layout

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🌐 Deployment

Quick Deploy:

# Build frontend
cd frontend
npm run build

# Deploy to Vercel
vercel --prod

# Or deploy backend to Railway
railway up

Supported Platforms:

• Frontend: Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages
• Backend: Railway, Render, Fly.io, Heroku
• Full Stack: Vercel (with serverless functions)

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🧪 Testing

# Run tests (when implemented)
npm test

# E2E tests
npm run test:e2e

# Coverage
npm run test:coverage

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📝 Project Structure

orbital-guard/
├── backend/
│   ├── package.json              # Backend dependencies
│   ├── server.js                 # Express API server (port 3001)
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── data/
│   │   │   └── staticData.js     # Data loader module
│   │   └── physics/
│   │       ├── collision.js      # Collision detection algorithms
│   │       ├── propagator.js     # Orbital propagation
│   │       └── tle_fetcher.js    # TLE data fetcher (optional)
│   ├── scripts/
│   │   ├── generate_keplerian.js      # Orbital data generator
│   │   └── generate_static_data.js    # Static data builder
│   └── data/
│       ├── orbitalData.json      # 260 satellites + 1500 debris
│       └── tle.json              # Two-Line Element sets
│
├── frontend/
│   ├── package.json              # Frontend dependencies
│   ├── vite.config.js            # Vite build configuration
│   ├── index.html                # Entry point
│   ├── public/
│   │   └── index5.html           # Training simulator (served as static)
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── main.jsx              # React app entry
│   │   ├── App.jsx               # Main application component
│   │   ├── components/
│   │   │   ├── Canvas/           # 3D scene components
│   │   │   │   ├── Atmosphere.jsx     # Atmospheric glow
│   │   │   │   ├── Globe.jsx          # Earth globe with texture
│   │   │   │   ├── OrbitPath.jsx      # Satellite trajectories
│   │   │   │   └── SatelliteSwarm.jsx # Billboard sprites
│   │   │   └── UI/               # User interface panels
│   │   │       ├── Landing.jsx           # Landing page with globe
│   │   │       ├── LandingGlobe3D.jsx    # 3D globe for landing
│   │   │       ├── TimeSlider.jsx        # Time control (bottom-right)
│   │   │       ├── CollisionStrip.jsx    # Bottom alert bar
│   │   │       ├── HazardList.jsx        # Collision warnings list
│   │   │       ├── ManeuverSuggestion.jsx # Delta-V calculations
│   │   │       ├── InfoPanel.jsx         # Satellite details
│   │   │       ├── SearchBar.jsx         # Satellite search
│   │   │       ├── FilterDropdown.jsx    # Filtering options
│   │   │       ├── SortDropdown.jsx      # Sort by options
│   │   │       ├── ComparisonPanel.jsx   # Stats comparison
│   │   │       ├── GroundStationPanel.jsx # Pass predictions
│   │   │       ├── LeftPanel.jsx         # Left sidebar container
│   │   │       └── RightPanel.jsx        # Right sidebar container
│   │   ├── hooks/
│   │   │   └── useSatelliteData.js # Custom hook for data fetching
│   │   ├── physics/
│   │   │   └── keplerian.js      # Client-side orbital propagation
│   │   ├── data/
│   │   │   ├── globe.json        # Globe geometry data
│   │   │   └── groundStations.js # Ground station coordinates
│   │   ├── styles/
│   │   │   └── theme.css         # Global CSS variables
│   │   └── utils/
│   │       └── orbitalUtils.js   # Utility functions
│   └── dist/                     # Production build output
│
├── shared/
│   └── constants.js              # Shared constants (ports, etc.)
│
├── index5.html                   # Training simulator (root)
├── ARCHITECTURE.md               # System architecture documentation
└── README.md                     # This file

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🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please follow these steps:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit changes (git commit -m 'Add AmazingFeature')
4. Push to branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

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📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.