Ground objects place targets, landmarks, vessels, and labels on a planet surface. They add mission context and give imagery and reconnaissance questions something real to find. Ground objects are passive: they are not assigned to teams and cannot be commanded.
When to add ground objects
Add ground objects when the brief asks participants to observe, identify, or report something on the surface, such as a ship at known coordinates or a labeled site. Skip this tab entirely for a pure orbital or communications exercise.
Reviewing the fields
Each object is organized into Details, Location, Visualization, and Data groups, matching the sections shown in the tab.
| Group | Field | Purpose | JSON key |
|---|---|---|---|
| Details | ID | Unique identifier for the object | objects.ground[].id |
| Details | Name | The display label | objects.ground[].name |
| Details | Type | The object type, Text or Vessel | objects.ground[].type |
| Location | Planet | The body the object sits on | objects.ground[].planet |
| Location | Latitude | Latitude in degrees | objects.ground[].latitude |
| Location | Longitude | Longitude in degrees | objects.ground[].longitude |
| Location | Altitude | Altitude above the surface in km | objects.ground[].altitude |
| Visualization | Scale | Visual marker size | objects.ground[].scale |
| Visualization | Color | Marker color | objects.ground[].color |
| Data | Data | Type-specific fields | objects.ground[].data |
A new object is created as a Text label with an ID such as GO_001. Change Type to Vessel when you need a moving surface target.
Choosing a type
- Text places a label at a coordinate. Its data carries the text to display.
- Vessel places a moving surface vessel. Its data can include a heading and a speed.
Both types can also carry electromagnetic properties, such as a frequency and gain, when the exercise involves detecting an emitter on the surface.
Adding an imagery target
For an imagery exercise, add a vessel at a known coordinate and write a question whose answer matches what the camera can actually see:
- Type:
Vessel - Name:
Target Alpha - Planet: Earth
- Latitude / Longitude: the known position
- Data: heading and speed if the vessel should move
Then write a question such as the vessel’s call sign or heading, and confirm during testing that the answer is readable from Pathfinder’s camera.
NOTE
Ground objects are passive context. If participants must command or receive telemetry from something, define a spacecraft instead.
Next, add orbital objects.