Sounding Rocket Flight Computer Flight Software Baseline

The objective of this project is to develop a flight software (FSW) baseline for a sounding rocket flight computer in order to consolidate functionality, reduce sounding rocket sub-systems, and ultimately save mass – improving performance & science return.

We will investigate the use of the Galois Recorder (previous IRAD project) or SpaceCube Mini-Z as a flight computer to host the flight software to support the consolidation of functionality in an effort to reduce sub-systems and ultimately mass from existing heritage sounding rocket hardware. A trade study will be conducted on the two options. Additionally, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) from a commercial vendor can be utilized to host a heritage set of core Flight Executive (cFE) and core Flight System (cFS) applications. A preliminary sounding rocket FSW roadmap will be developed. Custom hardware applications could also be developed in the future with additional investment.

Currently, the sounding rocket architecture includes flight computers and software in each subsystem, resulting in multiple instances of each and requiring a lot of ground support equipment. This project opens the possibility and develops plans for sounding rockets to have a single flight computer to consolidate functionality via a common flight software (cFE/cFS) and simplify ground support equipment. The flight computer and FSW technology advances one of the Sounding Rocket Program Office’s (SRPO) development priorities to miniaturize and modernize existing sounding rocket systems by consolidating functionality (therefore reducing mass) in an effort to increase performance and capabilities of current sounding rocket vehicles. By reducing mass and gaining additional vehicle performance, more science data can be collected on each sounding rocket flight, benefiting the entire science community of sounding rocket users.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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