VIEWC and VIEWH compute the view factors between surfaces. These views may be obstructed either by other surfaces or by themselves. The view factors are generally computed by means of the contour integration technique originally developed by Mittalas and Stevenson. When there is the possibility that the radiation between any two surfaces is obstructed, their view factor is calculated either by means of a double area integral technique or by contour integration applied to surface sub-elements (VIEWC) or by a pixel projection method (VIEWH). Structures are defined to VIEWC/VIEWH in terms of a collection of flat surfaces, each of which has three or four edges (i.e. a triangle or a quadrilateral). VIEWC can also compute view factors for 2-D surfaces. There are several ways to enter the data for VIEWC/VIEWH. One way is compatible with the usual finite element surface definitions, allowing the use of finite element mesh generation programs to create input for VIEWC/VIEWH. The VIEWCI program eliminates excess common nodes in free form data input, thus reducing the amount of storage required.

VIEWI is an interactive graphics program for generating the surface information needed for VIEWC. The surfaces may be generated singly or in groups and the user may manipulate them in a variety of different ways to create the structure desired. VIEWI may also be used to generate finite element 2-D meshes. VIEWCM combines the output from two different VIEWI sessions in order to make a composite body. VIEWG provides interactive graphical display of the surfaces generated by VIEWI, with full hidden line removal and storage of the picture for high-speed processing (e.g. rapid rotation or perspective viewing of the structure).

VIEWO computes the solar radiation falling on an orbiting structure and the solar radiation which is reflected from the Earth. Input is the same as VIEWC/VIEWH, with additional data on the position of the structure with respect to the sun and earth. VIEWO runs in either batch or interactive mode and computes the solar load as a function of orbital position. Output from VIEWO includes: solar view factor, earth's longwave view factor, reflected solar view factor, and total solar load.

VIEWS computes specular reflections from surfaces and can be used in conjunction with VIEWO to track the progress of the Sun's rays as they reflect throughout the assemblage of surfaces.