How do I set up contact planning software for multi-orbit operations and UTC-based pass scheduling?

To set up contact planning software for multi-orbit operations with UTC-based pass scheduling, use a workflow like this:

1) Define your mission and orbit set

• List every spacecraft, ground station, relay asset, or observer involved.
• For each orbit, load accurate ephemeris/orbital elements:
  • TLEs/SGP4 for LEO / short-term planning
  • Precise ephemerides for higher accuracy or longer horizons
• Confirm the reference frame and time standard used by the propagator.

2) Configure the software for UTC everywhere

• Set the system clock / database timestamps / UI display to UTC.
• Ensure all inputs and outputs use UTC:
  • pass start/end times
  • acquisition/loss of signal
  • maneuver windows
  • communication windows
• Disable local-time conversion in scheduling views if possible.
• Store all timestamps in a single canonical format, such as:
  • ISO 8601: 2026-07-29T14:30:00Z

3) Load ground station and contact constraints

For each ground site, define:

• Latitude, longitude, altitude
• Minimum elevation mask
• Azimuth limits / no-go sectors
• Receiver/transmitter availability
• Weather or daylight constraints if applicable
• Frequency band, antenna, and pointing constraints

For each spacecraft or orbit:

• Communication windows
• Battery/thermal limits
• Visibility constraints
• Priority rules
• Handshake time / setup / teardown margins

4) Build the contact planning rules

Set scheduling logic such as:

• Prioritize contacts by mission criticality
• Avoid overlapping contacts on shared resources
• Add pre/post contact buffers
• Handle daylight, eclipse, or maintenance blackout periods
• Resolve conflicts across multiple orbits and stations
• Support primary/backup station assignments

5) Generate passes in UTC

• Run the pass prediction engine using the selected orbit model.
• Confirm all predicted AOS/LOS times are returned in UTC.
• If the software outputs local time by default, convert at the API layer or export layer only, not in the core database.

6) Validate against a known reference

• Compare a few predicted passes against an external tool or manual calculation.
• Check that:
  • pass times match within tolerance
  • station visibility is correct
  • cross-midnight passes remain in UTC correctly
  • no DST/local-time offset errors appear

7) Plan for multi-orbit operations

If you manage multiple orbital regimes:

• Separate planning objects by orbit class or mission
• Use different propagators if needed
  • LEO: SGP4
  • MEO/GEO: higher-fidelity propagators or ephemerides
• Maintain a unified UTC schedule across all assets
• Use resource arbitration if multiple spacecraft share the same station

8) Automate updates

• Refresh ephemerides and TLEs regularly
• Recompute passes on a fixed cadence
• Trigger replanning when:
  • orbital elements change
  • a station goes offline
  • a maneuver is uploaded
  • a priority changes
• Log every schedule version with UTC timestamps

9) Export and share

• Export schedules in UTC-only formats:
  • CSV with Z timestamps
  • JSON with ISO 8601 UTC
  • ICS calendar entries in UTC
• Include timezone metadata only if absolutely necessary, but keep the canonical record in UTC.

10) Test edge cases

Be sure to test:

• Daylight saving transitions
• Midnight crossings
• Leap seconds if your system supports them
• Multi-station conflicts
• Multiple passes from different orbits occurring simultaneously

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a sample data model for contact planning,
2. a UTC scheduling schema, or
3. a step-by-step setup example for a specific tool or software stack.