Developer(s) | a.i. solutions, Inc. |
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Stable release | 7.8.1 / May 2023 |
Operating system | Windows, Linux |
Platform | x86, x86-64 |
Type | Technical computing |
License | Proprietary commercial software |
Website | ai-solutions |
FreeFlyer is a commercial off-the-shelf software application for satellite mission analysis, design, and operations. Its architecture revolves around its native scripting language, known as FreeForm Script. As a mission planning tool, it encompasses several capabilities, including precise orbit modeling, 2D and 3D visualization, sensor modeling, maneuver modeling, maneuver estimation, plotting, orbit determination, tracking data simulation, and space environment modeling.
FreeFlyer implements standard astrodynamics models such as the JGM-2, EGM-96, and LP-165 gravity potential models; atmospheric density models like Jacchia-Roberts, Harris-Priester, and NRL-MSIS; the International Reference Ionosphere model; and the International Geomagnetic Reference Field magnetic field model.
FreeFlyer is owned and developed by a.i. solutions, Inc. and is utilized by NASA, NOAA, and the USAF for space mission operations, mission assurance, and analysis support. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
FreeFlyer has been used to support many spacecraft missions, for mission planning analysis, operational analysis, or both. Specific mission examples include the International Space Station (ISS), [7] the JSpOC Mission System, [8] the Earth Observing System, [9] [10] Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), [11] and Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS). [12]
FreeFlyer has also been successfully used to conduct analysis in both the high-performance computing (HPC) and service-oriented architecture (SOA) environments. [13] [14]
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FreeFlyer is one stand-alone product with no added modules, though it does have two tiers of rising functionality.
Engineer | Mission |
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The Engineer tier includes:
| The Mission tier includes all Engineer functionality, plus:
|
The FreeFlyer Engineer and Mission tiers contain an integrated scripting language and development environment. The scripting language is an object-oriented script with objects and commands. Objects include properties and methods.
An example of FreeFlyer scripting is this:
// Create a spacecraft objectSpacecraft sc1; // Create a ViewWindow, passing sc1 as part of an array of objects to view ViewWindow vw({sc1}); // Propagate and view the spacecraft for two daysWhile (sc1.ElapsedTime <TimeSpan.FromDays(2)); sc1.Step(); vw.Update(); End;
Pioneer 11 is a NASA robotic space probe launched on April 5, 1973, to study the asteroid belt, the environment around Jupiter and Saturn, solar winds, and cosmic rays. It was the first probe to encounter Saturn, the second to fly through the asteroid belt, and the second to fly by Jupiter. Later, Pioneer 11 became the second of five artificial objects to achieve an escape velocity allowing it to leave the Solar System. Due to power constraints and the vast distance to the probe, the last routine contact with the spacecraft was on September 30, 1995, and the last good engineering data was received on November 24, 1995.
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