The General Mission Analysis Tool NASA

NASA GMAT
Space Mission Design for Everyone
Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov

Navigation and Mission Design Branch NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
OSCON 2011
Overview
NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

What is it? How do we do it?
Mission Design What is it? How do we do it? GMAT Features Demos Getting Started The Bigger Picture
GMAT
Features Demos Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Overview

Mission Design What is it? How do we do it? GMAT Features Demos Getting Started The Bigger Picture
GMAT
Why are we here?

To tell you what were doing, and to let you tell us how to do it better.
The Bigger Picture
Mission Design: What is it?

Intuitively, mission design answers the question: How do we get from point A to point B (in space)?

GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Mathematically, it solves the equation: F = ma Usually there are many possible answers. We want to nd the one that is: Fastest;


GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Mathematically, it solves the equation: F = ma Usually there are many possible answers. We want to nd the one that is: Fastest; Cheapest;


GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Mathematically, it solves the equation: F = ma Usually there are many possible answers. We want to nd the one that is: Fastest; Cheapest; Safest;


GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Mathematically, it solves the equation: F = ma Usually there are many possible answers. We want to nd the one that is: Fastest; Cheapest; Safest; Best
Mission Designs Greatest Hits

Apollo

GMAT
The Bigger Picture
free-return trajectory

Cassini

GMAT
The Bigger Picture
gravity assists

SMART-1

GMAT
The Bigger Picture
low thrust
Mission Design: How do we do it?

With lots of math. F = ma Forces: simple gravity, non-spherical gravity, third-body gravity, solar radiation pressure, atmospheric drag, propulsion, general relativity Algorithms: numerical integration, dierential correction, optimization Infrastructure: coordinate systems, time systems, state representations, physical constants, le formats, graphics
GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Mission Design: How do we do it?

And lots of software. STK FreeFlyer MATLAB Copernicus, Pyxis, MALTO, SPICE, CHEBYTOP, VARITOP, OTIS, Mystic, SBC, LTOC, MAnE, . . . Self-written tools in Perl, Python, C/C++, VB, Java, . . .
GMAT
The Bigger Picture
The Problem
Last year the Navigation and Mission Design Branch (size: 33 engineers) spent $800k on software licenses alone.

GMAT
Other, $250k
The Bigger Picture
Mission Design Software, $550k
Software that we cant examine, modify, debug, or learn from.
The Solution: GMAT

GMAT
GMAT: The General Mission Analysis Tool Cross-platform desktop application (Windows, Mac, Linux) Domain-specic scripting language Written in C++ with wxWidgets Extensive force models, dierential corrector, optimizers, estimators Graphics: 3D OpenGL, 2D plotting, 2D mapping Extensible via plugins, native functions, MATLAB functions Automation via C, TCP/IP, MATLAB
The Bigger Picture
Major Features

GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Developed by a team of private industry and NASA civil servants, led by Goddard Space Flight Center Contributions from NASA centers, other agencies, academia, industry, international users Open source, released under NASA Open Source Agreement (NOSA) Developed in public on SourceForge
Demos

GMAT
Demo 1: ISS Simulation Demo 2: OSIRIS-REx Design
The Bigger Picture
Now Try it Yourself
GMAT ships with nearly 40 example mission scripts: Geostationary LCROSS MMS Mars transfer Lunar transfer Libration points These and more are available on our wiki: gmat.ed-pages.com/wiki/MissionLibrary
GMAT
The Bigger Picture
How do I get started?

Download the app: sf.net/projects/gmat Read through the docs: gmat.sf.net/docs Check out the wiki: gmat.ed-pages.com/wiki
GMAT
Ask on the forum: gmat.ed-pages.com/forum Follow the blog: gmat.sf.net/blog
The Bigger Picture
How can I help?

For experts. . . Look through our algorithms, math spec, design documents Recreate an interesting mission and post it to our library If you can code. . . Help improve code quality Submit, verify, and quash bugs Follow our dev blog: gmatplugins.sf.net/blog If you care about what were doing and just want to help. . . Hang out on the wiki and forum Help improve our documentation Share with your friends gmat.ed-pages.com/wiki/HowCanIHelp

GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Now, the bigger picture...
NASA has a history of supporting open source. NASA Open Source Agreement (NOSA) WorldWind: over 20 million downloads since 2005 opensource.gsfc.nasa.gov (46 registered projects) opensource.arc.nasa.gov (23 registered projects) 2011 NASA Open Source Summit nasa.gov/open
GMAT
The Bigger Picture
Thank you

GMAT
The Bigger Picture

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NASA GMAT

Space Mission Design for Everyone

Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

Why are we here?

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design: What is it?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design: What is it?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design: What is it?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design: What is it?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Designs Greatest Hits

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Designs Greatest Hits

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Designs Greatest Hits

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design: How do we do it?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design: How do we do it?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Mission Design Software, $550k

Software that we cant examine, modify, debug, or learn from.

The Solution: GMAT

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

Demo 1: ISS Simulation Demo 2: OSIRIS-REx Design

The Bigger Picture

Now Try it Yourself

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

What is it? How do we do it?

The Bigger Picture

How do I get started?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

Ask on the forum: gmat.ed-pages.com/forum Follow the blog: gmat.sf.net/blog

The Bigger Picture

How can I help?

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design

The Bigger Picture

Now, the bigger picture...

NASA GMAT Joel J. K. Parker j.parker@nasa.gov Mission Design