FreeFlyer

{{Infobox software

| name = FreeFlyer

| screenshot =

| screenshot size = 300px

| caption = 3D Output of Proximity Zones representing Spacecraft Covariance, modeled in FreeFlyer

| developer = a.i. solutions, Inc.

| latest release version = 7.9.1

| latest release date = September 2024

| operating system = Windows, Linux

| genre = Technical computing

| platform = x86, x86-64

| license = Proprietary commercial software

| website = {{URL|https://ai-solutions.com/freeflyer/}}

}}

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.

Background

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.{{cite web | url = http://www.spacenews.com/contracts/solutions-lead-goddard-support-teams.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130202155222/http://www.spacenews.com/contracts/solutions-lead-goddard-support-teams.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = February 2, 2013 | title = a.i. solutions To Lead Goddard Support Teams | accessdate = December 15, 2009 |date=October 2009}}{{cite web | url = http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=29308 | title = NASA Selects a.i. solutions for $95M Flight Dynamics Support Services (FDSS) Contract | accessdate = January 24, 2010 |date=October 2009}}{{cite web | url = http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=8477 | title = Hadron/Analex Awarded $160 Million NASA Contract | accessdate = January 20, 2010 |date=May 2002}}{{cite news | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/10/03/daily2.html | title = Analex wins $65M Elvis contract extension | accessdate = January 20, 2010 |date=October 2005 | first=Jeff | last=Clabaugh}}{{cite web | url = https://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2010/01-January/24-Jan-2010/FBO-02048435.htm | title = Missile Defense Agency Engineering and Support Services (MiDAESS) Quality Safety and Mission Assurance (QSMA) Functional Capability Group | accessdate = March 20, 2010 |date=January 2010}}{{cite web | url = http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2008/0005122.html | title = ENGINEERING REVIEW INFORMATION SYSTEM US Patent 20080005122 a.i. solutions, Inc. | accessdate = March 26, 2010 |date=November 2008 | last1 = G. | first1 = Grems | last2 = E. | first2 = Henze | last3 = A. | first3 = Bixby | last4 = Mark | first4 = Roberts | last5 = Thomas | first5 = Mann }}

=Operational and analysis support=

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),{{cite web | url = http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=2117338379 | title = Johnson Space Center Core Trajectory Subsystem Contract Award | accessdate = December 12, 2011 |date=December 2011}} the JSpOC Mission System,{{cite web | url = http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/ai-solutions-awarded-contract-provide-freeflyerr-software-dods-joint-space-operations-1746494.htm | title = JMS Contract Award | work = Marketwire | accessdate = January 30, 2013 | date=January 2013}} the Earth Observing System,{{cite conference |conference=Spacecraft Ground Control and Data Systems (SCD 2) | citeseerx = 10.1.1.119.5197 | date=1999 | title = Automated Flight Dynamics Product Generation for the EOS AM-1 Spacecraft | first1 = Carla | last1 = Matusow | first2 = Robert | last2 = Wiegand }}[http://api.ning.com/files/ELzdJ8RcXavUJ6yVo3aoQEhKB3RTksd2sfNN3jl2gzMi0dnpGXr3bXuEXhzCtowqN5jxVMLGPQaX6Wf9XMGuZKpkdN*Tx41N/CloseApproachPredictionAnalysisOfTheEarthScienceConstellationWithTheFengyun1CDebris.pdf Close Approach Prediction Analysis of the Earth Science Constellation with the Fengyun-1C Debris, by Matthew Duncan and David Rand] Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO),[https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=ce9571f9c0fa0d430c5bf31f730ea62b&tab=core&_cview=0 FedBizOpps] and Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS).{{Cite web |url=http://www.ai-solutions.com/file.asp?F=A47ACEE6AC8845AF970F4B86643ADB38.pdf&N=Apogee+Raising+Technique+for+the+MMS+Formation+Flying+Mission.pdf&C=library |title=Apogee Raising Technique for the MMS Formation Flying Mission, by Craig Roberts, Jason Tichy, and Cheryl Gramling |access-date=2010-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707094647/http://www.ai-solutions.com/file.asp?F=A47ACEE6AC8845AF970F4B86643ADB38.pdf&N=Apogee+Raising+Technique+for+the+MMS+Formation+Flying+Mission.pdf&C=library |archive-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead }}

FreeFlyer has also been successfully used to conduct analysis in both the high-performance computing (HPC) and service-oriented architecture (SOA) environments.{{cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000003011 | title = Microsoft HPC Case Study | website = Microsoft | accessdate = March 26, 2010 |date=June 2001}}{{cite web | url = http://www.aero.org/publications/crosslink/summer2009/04.html | title = A Flexible Satellite Command and Control Framework | accessdate = March 26, 2010 |date=September 2009}}

Software tiers

FreeFlyer is one stand-alone product with two tiers of rising functionality.

border="2" class="wikitable"
style="background:#ABE" \| Engineer ! style="background:#ABE" \| Mission
valign = "top" \| The Engineer tier includes: Scripting language and IDE 2D and 3D visualizations with customizable layouts Multiple spacecraft and hardware modeling including sensors, antennas, tanks, thrusters, and solar arrays Coverage analysis including sensors, antennas, ground stations, and other spacecraft Impulsive and finite maneuver modeling, including targeting system Spacecraft attitude modeling including attitude matrix, quaternions, Euler angles, RA/DEC, spin rates, and attitude history files Sensor and antenna modeling, including custom patterns and obscuration masking Maneuver modeling, including finite burns and support for chemical and electrical (low-thrust) propulsion systems Coverage analysis, including visibility and access calculations Added coordinate system types including custom/user-defined systems MATLAB Interface{{cite web \| url = http://www.mathworks.com/products/connections/product_detail/product_35478.html \| title = Mathworks.com \| accessdate = March 26, 2010 \| year = 2008 }} Automation of flight dynamics tasks Monte Carlo analysis Collision Avoidance/Conjunction Analysis Formation Flying Mission Plan performance profiling \| valign = "top" \| The Mission tier includes all Engineer functionality, as well as: TCP/IP socket and SQL database interface Orbit determination and error analysis Estimation in Cartesian or Equinoctial element sets Batch Least Squares Extended Kalman Filter Unscented Kalman Filter Square Root Information Filter Generic optimization capability for multivariable optimization of user-defined objective functions using SNOPT, IPOPT, and other optimization software Generation of NORAD Two-Line Element states from ephemeris or observational data Access to the FreeFlyer Runtime API from C, C#, Python, or Java Ability to include custom objects and force models via C# extensions: COM objects Customizable user interface Generic ASCII/binary file read/write Automatic e-mail notification Terrain modeling

border="2" class="wikitable"

style="background:#ABE" | Engineer

! style="background:#ABE" | Mission

valign = "top" | The Engineer tier includes:

Scripting language and IDE
2D and 3D visualizations with customizable layouts
Multiple spacecraft and hardware modeling including sensors, antennas, tanks, thrusters, and solar arrays
Coverage analysis including sensors, antennas, ground stations, and other spacecraft
Impulsive and finite maneuver modeling, including targeting system
Spacecraft attitude modeling including attitude matrix, quaternions, Euler angles, RA/DEC, spin rates, and attitude history files
Sensor and antenna modeling, including custom patterns and obscuration masking
Maneuver modeling, including finite burns and support for chemical and electrical (low-thrust) propulsion systems
Coverage analysis, including visibility and access calculations
Added coordinate system types including custom/user-defined systems
MATLAB Interface{{cite web | url = http://www.mathworks.com/products/connections/product_detail/product_35478.html | title = Mathworks.com | accessdate = March 26, 2010 | year = 2008 }}
Automation of flight dynamics tasks
Monte Carlo analysis
Collision Avoidance/Conjunction Analysis
Formation Flying
Mission Plan performance profiling

| valign = "top" | The Mission tier includes all Engineer functionality, as well as:

TCP/IP socket and SQL database interface
Orbit determination and error analysis
Estimation in Cartesian or Equinoctial element sets
Batch Least Squares
Extended Kalman Filter
Unscented Kalman Filter
Square Root Information Filter
Generic optimization capability for multivariable optimization of user-defined objective functions using SNOPT, IPOPT, and other optimization software
Generation of NORAD Two-Line Element states from ephemeris or observational data
Access to the FreeFlyer Runtime API from C, C#, Python, or Java
Ability to include custom objects and force models via C# extensions: COM objects
Customizable user interface
Generic ASCII/binary file read/write
Automatic e-mail notification
Terrain modeling