Setting the Epoch
The epoch is the initial date and time of the simulation. By default, a new simulation will be set to the current UTC of the device - to the nearest hour. However, the date can be changed by selecting the simulation tab and changing the date and time.
NOTE
The orbit is relative to the inertial origin. As such, changing the date or time of the simulation will result in the spacecraft being at a different location relative to the Earth’s surface.
Adding the Magnetic Field
To add the magnetic field to the Earth, select the Earth in the Outliner Panel and navigate back to the properties panel. Under the Models section, there will be a section for the magnetosphere. By default, no magnetic field is enabled for each of the planets. However, to turn on the magnetic field, select the drop-down and press the Centered Dipole option.
The magnetic field-centered dipole model is a simple approximation of a magnetic field around any planet. It will have some default values for the Earth when selected. The World Magnetic Model (WMM) model is an Earth-specific model and uses the 2015 World Magnetic Model as a source for the magnetic field lines. This is an alternative to the centered dipole approximation used in this tutorial.
