diff --git a/swiftest/init_cond.py b/swiftest/init_cond.py
index 30b292d5e..0c57ddecf 100644
--- a/swiftest/init_cond.py
+++ b/swiftest/init_cond.py
@@ -140,11 +140,13 @@ def get_rotrate(raw_response):
     def get_rotpole(jpl):
         RA = jpl.ephemerides()['NPole_RA'][0]
         DEC = jpl.ephemerides()['NPole_DEC'][0]
+        
 
         if np.ma.is_masked(RA) or np.ma.is_masked(DEC):
             return np.array([0.0,0.0,1.0])
 
-        rotpole = SkyCoord(ra=RA * u.degree, dec=DEC * u.degree).cartesian
+        rotpole = SkyCoord(ra=RA * u.degree, dec=DEC * u.degree,frame='icrs').transform_to('barycentricmeanecliptic').cartesian
+         
         return np.array([rotpole.x.value, rotpole.y.value, rotpole.z.value])
     
     if type(altid) != list:
diff --git a/swiftest/tool.py b/swiftest/tool.py
index c275eff86..159e45b5b 100644
--- a/swiftest/tool.py
+++ b/swiftest/tool.py
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ def rotate_to_vector(ds, new_pole, skip_vars=['space','Ip']):
     original_vector = unit_pole.reshape(1, 3)  
     
     # Use align_vectors to get the rotation that aligns the z-axis with Mars_rot
-    rotation, _ = R.align_vectors(target_vector, original_vector.reshape(1, 3))
+    rotation, _ = R.align_vectors(target_vector, original_vector)
 
     # Define a function to apply the rotation, which will be used with apply_ufunc
     def apply_rotation(vector, rotation):