Questions tagged [software]
Questions regarding computer programs used in space exploration.
6
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0answers
111 views
Have any probes / spacecraft used GPU hardware? If so, what for?
I was reading this question about CPU's used in space and that got me thinking about the practical applications of GPUs for space-bound vessels. I'm wondering if we ever sent a radiation-hardened GPU ...
13
votes
1answer
183 views
Does Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter require “reprogramming” when handling communications for newer spacecraft or landers?
While I was going through the question What happens to Insight's parachute? I learned of the role of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to provide reliable communication between other Mars spacecraft and/...
5
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0answers
72 views
Software for orbital sketches
I am looking for recommendations on software that can create orbit sketches such as the image below. Adding an informative sketch to an article can help readers better understand the idea.
I am ...
3
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1answer
84 views
Does a gravity model exist for satellites in LEO?
I'm wondering if there's a C-based (or similar language) program that will output the gravitational strength given input geodetic LEO coordinates (which I can convert to ECI etc. if needed). Ideally ...
5
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2answers
101 views
Does a solar geometry library exist for satellites in LEO?
I'm looking for a solar geometry library built for a cubesat in LEO. In my research so far, I've discovered the MINES Paris-Tech Solar Geometry 2 library (http://www.oie.mines-paristech.fr/...
7
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3answers
177 views
Has in-flight software changes ever involved a change of programming language?
Computer software is arguably the only component of an unmanned spacecraft that can be changed once the mission is already underway. Many spacecraft are now designed to accept new programs through ...
2
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0answers
53 views
What type of software is used to make radiation shielding simulations for use in Space or Mars?
Hopefully this is relevant to the board and doesn't get deleted. Quick background: In Thailand. Grad student, mechanical engineering, with very limited knowledge regarding nuclear or space radiations. ...
2
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1answer
233 views
How open is NASA's “open source” GMAT software?
In answers and comments to What does it mean when a software is called open-source for US-release only? I found out that when NASA uses the term "open source" it does not mean open to everyone! ...
1
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1answer
167 views
Design Software Recommendations
I'm currently working on "base stones" of future cubesat mission and I'm doing some research for designing or simulation of cubesats. Software that I found on google costs enormous price and I'm ...
2
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0answers
77 views
Software (besides Ltool) to simulate CR3BP (three body) problems?
Are there any other softwares for CR3BP besides Ltool? As I've learnt here Ltool is not generally available to the public. I would like to simulate three body orbits within the standard circular ...
3
votes
1answer
181 views
Low earth orbit propagation in GMAT
I'm propagating a Low Earth orbit using GMAT.
I 'm trying to make the propagation realistic, considering the zonal harmonics, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Venus perturbations, tidal forces and solar ...
1
vote
1answer
146 views
Difficulty trying to use the SPK file ast343de430.bsp
I'm looking for a NAIF SPK file (these typically end in .bsp) for a bunch of asteroids in the J2000 reference frame. I found ...
9
votes
1answer
719 views
Transitioning into space software engineering
I have been a Web Developer in London since I graduated in 2012. My skills reside mainly in the Microsoft stack (MSSQL, .NET, C#, MVC and all the front-end stuff).
I have always been very interested ...
7
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1answer
238 views
Are software updates to satellites or in general space craft commonplace during scientific missions?
History provides enough examples of failed missions due to software failure.
If the mission system is still physically intact (ISS best example but very close to Earth making the examole maybe less ...
13
votes
2answers
476 views
What does the software quality process for NASA's SLS look like?
What does the software quality process for NASA's SLS look like? What are the relevant standards that they have to comply to? Do they have to show that they are CMMI compliant, for example? I'm ...
6
votes
1answer
117 views
Info on NASA's NOS3 software and the rest of the suite used by STF-1
THE STF-1 cubesat project, in cooperation with NASA, has developed a whole suite of simulation software for small satellites.
Info here: http://stf1.com/simulation.php
And here: https://www.nasa....
4
votes
1answer
274 views
What does it mean when a software is called open-source for US-release only?
I saw this answer about MarsGRAM, and when I clicked on the NASA software link to read about it I saw at the bottom of the page a blurb for EarthGRAM 2010, an atmospheric model for Earth with likely ...
11
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3answers
645 views
Open source space exploration software projects accepting contributions
Sorry if this has been asked a lot, I couldn't find anything by searching the site. I'm a software engineer looking for an open-source space exploration project to contribute to in my spare time. No ...
1
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0answers
81 views
Simulation of Rocket chambers like in Hall Effect Thrusters
I started learning Solidworks in hopes of being able to run simulation to study rocket chambers. Currently, I am studying the flow of plasma and its interaction with the magnetic field, but ...
6
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2answers
2k views
What is the most popular programming language in space?
For the purposes of clarification
- will include machine code generated by a programming language on earth.
- 'in space' includes anything in orbit and deep space transit.
- special mentions of ...
17
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2answers
3k views
Does anybody work on a “spacecraft linux”?
There are quite many industrial Linux adaptions around, like in your router's firmware or the Android OS.
On long term, probably any spacecraft will need to run more or less standard profiles of ...
7
votes
1answer
223 views
Besides retarded gravitation, anything else to worry about when calculating MU69's orbit from scratch?
For fun I'd like to use Hubble Astrometric data for example the observations listed at the bottom here to numerically estimate the orbit of 2014 MU69 as well as its uncertainties.
My plan is to use ...
1
vote
1answer
269 views
3D modelling of satellites around the earth
I want to find and see "GPS satellites in view" for different orbits missions. For example I want to see the observable GPS satellites for a specific satellite in GEO, for this purpose I need a ...
6
votes
1answer
578 views
What computer programs does ITAR say I can or can not write, or share, or use in the US?
After reading this answer by someone knowledgeable in the field, I realized that I still don't understand even a little bit what International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (and its cousins) does ...
2
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0answers
243 views
Simulation software for AOCS/GNC?
I would like to know what are the simulation software tools available as of today (free or commercial) to perform some attitude and orbit control (AOC) or guidance and navigation control analysis, I ...
1
vote
1answer
840 views
What are some good softwares to simulate rocket trajectories ?
I am working on a college project which is based upon a experimental sounding rocket and it would be really helpful if the community could refer me good softwares to simulate trajectories of a rocket.
4
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2answers
267 views
Commercial grade single board computers (SBCs)
Suppose a nanosatellite is made with several commercial grade SBCs working together. And we design it so as to give output based on majority voting type of algorithm. I am aware of single event upsets ...
34
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3answers
5k views
Why wasn't the Mars Climate Orbiter's fatal error caught prior to launch?
The Mars Climate Orbiter failed in 1999 due to:
ground-based computer software which produced output in non-SI units of pound (force)-seconds (lbf·s) instead of the SI units of newton-seconds (N·s) ...
4
votes
1answer
119 views
Which format would be useful for satellite engineers to accomplish better thermal analysis?
I am developing a software that is capable of simulating the orbit for satellites for my master thesis. The software will not be able to make thermal analysis, but I think it can still help satellite ...
3
votes
1answer
459 views
What caused New Horizon's so-called “40-year glitch”?
The Discover Magazine article How New Horizons Survived the 40-Year-Glitch and Made it to Pluto is a little confusing. It wraps NASA history together with several different space missions to get the "...
7
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0answers
515 views
Is there any compiler available for HAL/S?
The HAL/S programming language is used in the general purpose computers in the space shuttle. I have written a simple HAL/S program of my own. Is there any compiler available to turn it into ...
22
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4answers
4k views
What operating system(s) were used in the space shuttle?
Is there any possibility to learn and use the operating system languages used in the space shuttle?
3
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2answers
409 views
how and why is image processing used on spacecrafts?
Electronics engineer here trying to dive into aviation and aerospace engineering. I was wondering which (advanced) image processing techniques are being used in satellites nowadays. And which purposes ...
4
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2answers
588 views
Generally, what types of sensors are used in rocket guidance systems?
I was wondering how a rocket adjusts its position to ensure it takes the desired path. What sensors, or generally technology, are used to gain data on the rocket's position, where it is heading and ...
1
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1answer
807 views
What are the uses of the NASA core Flight System (cFS)?
NASA's cFS (core Flight System) has been released as open-source.
The Core Flight System (cFS) is a platform and project independent reusable software framework and set of reusable software ...
3
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1answer
544 views
Is GMAT still available? Where? How? (NASA's General Mission Analysis Tool)
In this comment below the question Visualization of non-Keplerian orbits for solar sails, NASA's open source General Mission Analysis Tool is suggested. Sounds great!
My google search found this blog ...
1
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1answer
412 views
Software development for Apollo [closed]
How was software developed during apollo?
From various sources, it can be gleaned that the computer was a ibm system 360, and the language was basically a fortran dialect or fortran.
What I'd like ...
5
votes
2answers
200 views
Is there software that allows me to experiment with solar sail parameters?
Is there any software that allows me to experiment with solar sail models?
I want to try models of sails of different sizes, different positions around the Solar System, and different trajectories.
12
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4answers
1k views
Successful Linux-based Cubesat missions?
Has anyone had any experience with successful Linux-based flight computer on Cubesat missions?
What Linux hardware was used and what problems did you encounter?
I am contracted to write flight/ground ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
How is the software for scientific space missions developed?
The flight control software for the Space Shuttle was developed to the most rigorous standards that exist today. They went to enormous lengths to prevent bugs from ever threatening the mission and/or ...
5
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1answer
805 views
Error detection and correction techniques on New Horizons data
As New Horizon's signal is so weak, probability exists of errors in detected signal.
What error detection and correction codes are used in the signal? Is it known, what is the error rate in received ...
16
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1answer
6k views
Operating system of New Horizons spacecraft
I've been doing some searching and I can find some technical details about the flight computer of the New Horizons spacecraft. What I've found is:
It has a Mongoose-V 32-bit CPU (a radiation hardened ...
2
votes
1answer
360 views
Orbital state vectors : elaboration needed on the position vector
I already asked here about how to calculate orbits of satellites programmatically then plot them on 2d plane, but my question was too broad.
I'm still on my journey to understand & pull such ...
1
vote
0answers
750 views
Simple software to plot satellites' orbits? [closed]
I want to build a simple personal project, a software that allows users to choose between 5 or 6 satellites, then draw the chosen satellite's path on a google map. But I really don't know where to ...
18
votes
1answer
2k views
How often, if ever, was “software” updated in the shuttle orbiter?
It dawned on me that the tragic STS-107 disaster of (my favorite shuttle) Columbia was after more than 20 years of service.
Computers in 1981 were of course significantly inferior to what I had in my ...
27
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2answers
32k views
What computer and software is used by the Falcon 9?
I don't know if this would be public, but what CPU / Microcontrollers are used and what software do they run on the Falcon 9? Do they use an OS or is it just bare metal programming?
I found some ...
17
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2answers
6k views
How did NASA remotely fix the code on the Mars Pathfinder?
In 1997, NASA remotely fixed a bug that caused priority inversion on their Mars Pathfinder. How did they go about doing this? What kind of communication protocols are used? How do they update the ...
2
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2answers
85 views
Free program to analyze environment effects on spacecrafts
Is there any free program (online or downloadable) to analyze the effects of the environment (radiation, micro-meteoroids...) on the spacecraft (after having defined the orbit)?
14
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1answer
1k views
Online Porkchop Plotter
Is there an online tool available to calculate porkchop plots at arbitrary resolutions? Real world only please -- I am aware of the tools available to do this for, say, KSP.
0
votes
1answer
392 views
MCC21 FCR Display Closeup or Hi-res
I've been looking for close up or hi-res photos of the newer displays of the MCC21 (Mission Control Center - 21st Century) FCR (Flight Control Room), where the text is legible.
I haven't found any on ...
