For spacecraft missions we perform GNC systems analysis, design, and operational procedure development, flight readiness certification, and software development. Our expertise spans NASA, DARPA and commercial systems including Space Shuttle, International Space Station US and Russian systems, SRMS and SSRMS robotics, ATV, Progress, ARES I, Space Launch System, GATEWAY, MORPHEUS Lander, TRACE Satellite, PHOENIX Satlets, and STRATOLAUNCH Air-Launched Rocket. Some examples of flight proven products are listed below. Our competencies include:

  • Multi-Physics Modeling & Simulation:
    • 6DOF multi-body rigid + flex dynamics, fuel slosh, plume impingement, actuators, electro-mechanical systems, space robotics
    • Time and event-driven simulations, Monte-Carlo analysis, rapid-turnaround trade space analysis tools
  • Flight Control Systems
    • TVC, Thruster, CMG, RW sizing and control systems, bending filters, fuel and time optimal guidance systems, EDL terminal guidance
  • Risk & Reliability:
    • FMEA/FMECA/FMEDA, FTA, RBD, Root Cause, PFD, IEC 61508, PRA, Monte Carlo, MTBF, Confidence Intervals
  • Virtual Reality

International Space Station

  • CMG momentum desaturation logic using thrusters while reducing structural excitation even in presence of flex frequency shifts.
  • USTO (US Thruster Only) control which reduces structural loads during heavy payload robotics operations and large angle rotations
  • Guidance system for large angle rotations using CMGs without propellant use (ZPM) or using thrusters that reduce propellant use by 90%+ (OPM). From 2012 to 2019, approximately 5,000kg of propellant have been saved using this guidance system.

BEV

Birds Eye View (BEV) visualization system was used in NASA JSC International Space Station Mission Control Center.

SODA

Space Operational Design and Analysis (SODA) tool licensed to Bastion Technologies, has been in use since 2018 by the JSC Mission and Program Integration contract to rapidly evaluate spacecraft proximity operations. The tool has been validated using flight data from Soyuz and Dragon undocking from ISS.