Satellite MissionPlanner is a modern, map-centric web application for planning, visualizing, and managing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) missions. It integrates live weather data, realistic telemetry simulation, and a suite of professional planning tools into an intuitive, responsive interface powered by Google Maps.

• Interactive Map Canvas: Plan missions directly on a high-resolution Google Maps satellite view.
• Advanced Mission Planning:
  • Add, edit, and delete waypoints with precise control over location, altitude, and speed.
  • Define polygonal mission boundaries for safe operational areas.
  • Set a dedicated home position for return-to-launch procedures.
  • Terrain-Aware Planning:
    • Live Elevation Data: Automatically fetches ground elevation for each waypoint.
    • Altitude Toggle (AGL/MSL): Plan flights relative to the ground (Above Ground Level) or a fixed altitude (Mean Sea Level).
    • Terrain Profile Chart: Instantly visualize your flight path against the underlying terrain for enhanced safety.
• Real-time Flight Simulation:
  • Visualize the mission with a realistic telemetry overlay.
  • The drone icon moves smoothly along the path at user-defined speeds.
  • Battery and signal strength degrade dynamically based on distance and flight time.
• Safety & Validation:
  • Live Plan Validation: The editor provides real-time warnings for common issues like unsafe altitudes, duplicate waypoints, and missions exceeding estimated battery life.
  • Altitude Safety Alerts: During simulation, a prominent banner provides critical alerts if the drone breaches predefined altitude safety limits.
• Live Weather Integration:
  • Fetches and displays current METAR/TAF data.
  • Provides a 5-day forecast with temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed/direction.
  • Displays critical government-issued weather alerts (e.g., high wind warnings).
• Mission Management:
  • Save and load multiple missions directly in the browser.
  • Export mission plans to common formats: GeoJSON, KML, CSV, a printable PDF Mission Brief, and a terrain-aware MAVLink plan.
• Polished UI/UX:
  • Dual Unit System: Toggle the entire application's display between Imperial (feet) and Metric (meters).
  • A clean, modern, dark-themed interface.
  • Responsive design for both desktop and mobile use.
  • Custom map controls, tooltips, and intuitive editors for a seamless user experience.

You need API keys from two services to enable all features. Both services offer generous free tiers suitable for development and personal use.

1. Google Maps Platform: Required for the map display, location search, and terrain elevation data.
2. OpenWeather: Required for live weather forecasts and alerts.

1. Clone or download the project files.

2. Get API Keys:

   • Google Maps API Key:
     1. Go to the Google Cloud Console.
     2. Create a new project and enable billing (this is required by Google, but you will almost certainly stay within the generous free tier).
     3. Enable these three APIs: Maps JavaScript API, Places API, and Elevation API.
     4. Go to "Credentials", create a new API key, and copy it.
     5. Important: For security, restrict your key to your website's domain (or localhost for testing).
   • OpenWeather API Key:
     1. Go to OpenWeatherMap and create a free account.
     2. Navigate to the "API keys" tab in your user dashboard.
     3. Crucially, you must subscribe to the "One Call by Call" plan. The application uses the One Call 3.0 API, which requires this specific subscription. Go to the API pricing page, find this plan, and click "Get API key". This plan is free for 1,000 calls/day and does not require payment details. A key from the default "Free" plan will not work and will cause an authentication error.
     4. Copy your new API key.

3. Run the Application (VERY IMPORTANT):

   • Do not open the index.html file directly in your browser. This will cause NetworkError or CORS errors when the app tries to fetch API data, as browsers block such requests from file:// URLs for security.
   • You must serve the files using a local web server. The easiest way is with npx:
   • Open your terminal, navigate to the project's root folder, and run the following command:

     npx serve

   • Then, open the URL provided by the server (usually http://localhost:3000) in your browser.

4. Configure API Keys in the App:

   1. On the right-hand sidebar, click the "Settings" tab (gear icon).
   2. Paste your Google Maps API Key into the first field and click "Save Key". The map will load automatically.
   3. Paste your OpenWeather API Key into the second field and click "Save Key". The weather panel will now show live data.

   Your keys are saved securely in your browser's local storage and are never transmitted elsewhere.

1. Search for a Location: Use the search bar at the top of the map to find a starting point for your mission.
2. Plan a Mission:
   • In the "Mission Editor" tab, give your mission a name and set a home position.
   • Click on the map to add waypoints.
   • Click on a waypoint in the list to expand its details. Use the sliders and input fields to adjust its altitude, speed, and precise coordinates.
   • Use the AGL/MSL toggle to decide if the altitude is relative to the ground or a fixed sea level.
   • Observe the Terrain Profile Chart to see your flight path in relation to the ground.
   • To define a safe flight zone, click "Draw Boundary" and draw a polygon on the map.
3. Validate and Simulate:
   • Check the "Plan Validation" section for any warnings about your flight plan.
   • Once you have at least two waypoints, click "Start Simulation" to see a preview of the flight. Observe the telemetry data in the header.
4. Check the Weather:
   • Switch to the "Weather" tab to review the current conditions, forecast, and any critical alerts for the area.
5. Save and Export:
   • Go to the "Mission Library" tab to save your current mission.
   • Use the export buttons to generate mission files in your desired format. All exports (MAVLink, KML, PDF, etc.) are terrain-aware and include the fetched ground elevation data.