A Networked Flight Dynamics Platform for Collaborative Design and Optimization

Nabla Zero Labs will investigate the feasibility and technical merit of the Astrodynamics Cloud: A technology enabling the collaborative design, analysis, and optimization of spacecraft trajectories. We aim to support autonomous, integrated, and inter-operable modeling capabilities throughout NASA's mission portfolio, as well as the rapidly-growing small-satellite industry. The technology consolidates both new and existing software, algorithms, and data structures into an on-line, high-performance service. It is based on four core components: 1. The Trajectory Graph Data Structure, used for management, traversal, and persistent storage of available transfers. 2. The Search Strategy Interface, used for interaction between the graph and existing or new software and algorithms for rapid exploration of transfer options near and around planets, satellites, and small bodies. 3. The Trajectory Optimization Interface, used for interaction between the approximate rapid-search solutions and algorithms for high-fidelity trajectory optimization in multi-body environments. 4. The Distributed Analytics Engine, used for decentralized collaboration, analytical support, and orchestration of massively-parallel, high-performance workloads, such as situational awareness, machine learning, and Monte Carlo analysis. We aim for our technology to continue pushing the current generational leap from sequential computing to concurrent and parallel. In addition, we propose a novel paradigm shift: from an outdated single-user and batch-oriented workflow, to a truly collaborative multi-user and incremental view.

Our technology is be directly relevant to mission design and flight mechanics groups at NASA. Specific missions include Europa Clipper, currently under development by Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Icy Worlds initiative. Our technology may significantly extend the capabilities of existing software developed with NASA funds, such as Monte, GMAT, Otis, Malto, and Mystic, and serve as a spring-board to attract new customers to those powerful applications.

We aim to offer astrodynamics-as-a-service to the rapidly-growing small-satellite industry. The industry is expected to reach the 30- to 40 billion valuation mark by the next decade, and require the design, analysis, optimization, and control of over six or seven thousand individual space assets. We aim for our platform to fulfill all their astrodynamics needs.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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