Term NameWhat Is That?How Do I Use It? & FAQsRelevant Labels
Object Browser (OB)Your file directory for your simulation. It displays every active asset (e.g. Satellite, Facility, Sensor) in your scenario.By default, it should be on the left side of your screen. You can do a couple of things with this:
  • If you want to move this tab around, feel free to click and drag it around; place it wherever you like. If you press the downwards arrow along the top of the bar, you can change it from floating (it goes wherever you want), to docking (will snap along the screen), to integrated (will go wherever you want in your workspace).
  • If you accidentally closed it, here's how you can find it! Along the very top toolbar, click "view". From there, find "5"; that will make your OB appear again.
  • Double-click any item in this tree list to open its properties menu.

3D Graphics Window The main central panel showing a 3D model of the central body of your choosing, and the orbital trajectories that are passing by that body. Used to visually confirm certain geometries, line-of-sight arcs, and sensor cones.

By default, you should have a 3D window where your central body is the Earth. 

If you want a new one, click "view" along the very top toolbar, then "New 3D Graphics Window". You can also duplicate an existing window via very similar means. 

2D Map WindowThe main central panel showing a 2D projection map of the Earth. It displays the ground tracks of your satellites and the surface coverage footprints of your sensors over time.

By default, you should have this window open when you create a new scenario. 

If you want a new one, click "view" along the very top toolbar, then "New 2D Graphics Window". You can also duplicate an existing window via very similar means. 

  • 9 times out of 10, an "odd" looking ground track pattern is just normal flat-map projection geometry. If you really want to know if it's normal, check the 3D window to see its true circular path. 

Timeline ViewThe panel dictating the "time" the simulation is currently rendering. 

By default, it should be towards the bottom of your screen. However, the actual standard media controls (Play, Pause, Fast Forward, Reset) live in the animation toolbar just above your workspace with your graphics windows!

  • If everything is frozen, that means you've probably hit the end of your global Scenario duration. Click that red reset button in the animation toolbar to rewind to the very beginning of your simulation period.

Report & Graph ManagerThe UI tool used to pull raw numbers (e.g. GPS coordinates, access durations, look angles) out of your visual simulation and turn them into data sheets. For whatever object you want to make a report for, right-click it in the OB. Then, find "Report & Graph Manager" and select a style template in order to generate it.

Access ToolThe calculation interface used to determine exact line-of-sight timeline windows between any two objects.To use it, highlight your primary object in the OB (this "primary object" is whatever is trying to access/see the other thing). If you look at the toolbar above the animation toolbar, click the "Access" button. It should look like 2 connected nodes, one being green. Then, look to your OB and select your target (whatever your primary object is trying to see) from the list, then "compute".

Properties BrowserThe ultimate configuration window for any individual object. This is where you input hard physical data, like orbital parameters, transmitter frequencies, or camera dimensions.To get to it, double-click any object in the OB. 

Vector Geometry Tool (VGT)The utility window in STK used to construct custom coordinate systems, geometric vectors, points, and reference axes.

To get to it, click "Analysis" from the main toolbar along the top. Then, find "Analysis Workbench", and the first tab that you should be automatically on is the VGT tab. 

  • If you need data that is NOT relative to the center of the Earth, use VGT and create a new coordinate system.

Component BrowserA catalog built into STK that holds predefined profiles for real-world space objects, atmospheric models, star maps, celestial bodies, and satellite hardware specs. To get to it, click "Utilities" from the main toolbar along the top. From there, you should be able to find the Component Browser. You can duplicate standard components (e.g. a default GPS receiver antenna) and tweak them to match custom flight hardware. 

Scenario ObjectThe ultimate folder that holds everything that exists in your simulation, at the top of your OB. It holds global settings like the start date, 

Integrated 3D Media Toolbar

Message Viewer

Analysis Workbench

Deck (View)

Satellite Creator Wizard

Spatial Analysis Tool

Solar Panel Tool

Globe Manager

Astrogator UI Page

Reset Button

Animation Time Step

Object Properties 

Insert STK Object 

Save, Archive (VDF)