Lox – Oxidized Astrodynamics

Lox is an MPLv2-licensed Rust astrodynamics library with first-class Python bindings for orbital mechanics, mission analysis, and telecommunications.

lox-space is the main entry point for both the Rust and Python APIs, re-exporting all functionality from the Lox ecosystem through a unified interface.

Python Quick Start

import lox_space as lox

# Parse a UTC epoch and convert to the TDB time scale
epoch = lox.UTC.from_iso("2025-01-01T12:00:00").to_scale("TDB")

# Load Earth orientation parameters
provider = lox.EOPProvider("finals2000A.all.csv")

# Design a sun-synchronous orbit at 800 km altitude with a 10:30 LTAN
sso = lox.Keplerian.sso(
    epoch, altitude=800 * lox.km, ltan=(10, 30), provider=provider
)

# Convert to Cartesian state and propagate with J2 perturbations
state = sso.to_cartesian()
j2 = lox.J2(state)
trajectory = j2.propagate(epoch, end=epoch + 100 * lox.minutes)

Rust Quick Start

use lox_space::prelude::*;

let epoch = Utc::from_iso("2025-01-01T12:00:00").unwrap().to_time().to_scale(Tdb);
let provider = EopParser::new().from_path("finals2000A.all.csv").parse().unwrap();

let sso = SsoBuilder::default()
    .with_provider(&provider)
    .with_time(epoch)
    .with_altitude(800.0.km())
    .with_ltan(10, 30)
    .build()
    .unwrap();

// Convert to Cartesian state and propagate with J2 perturbations
let state = sso.to_cartesian();
let j2 = J2Propagator::new(state);
let end = epoch + TimeDelta::from_minutes(100);
let trajectory = j2.propagate(Interval::new(epoch, end)).unwrap();

Installation

Python

uv add lox-space
# or
pip install lox-space

Rust

cargo add lox-space

Features

Orbital Mechanics — Keplerian elements, state vectors, SSO design, Vallado/J2/SGP4 propagation, TLE parsing
Time Systems — TAI, TT, TDB, TCB, TCG, UTC, UT1; femtosecond precision, leap-second aware
Reference Frames — ICRF, ITRF, TEME; CIO and equinox-based transformation chains
Ground Stations — Visibility windows, elevation masks, pass prediction
Constellation Design — Walker Delta/Star, Street-of-Coverage, Flower
RF Link Budgets — Antenna patterns, modulation schemes, path loss
Python Bindings — Full API with type stubs and NumPy interop

Documentation

Python: https://python.lox.rs
Rust: https://docs.rs/lox-space

Status

Lox is pre-1.0. The API may change between releases.

For more information, see the main repository.

lox-space 0.1.0-alpha.37