Open Source vs. Commercial Telemetry and Command Software
As many companies are in a hurry to digitize their mission procedures in an effort to scale, reduce risk, and increase efficiency, we get a lot of questions about the benefits and drawbacks between using open source software or commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software.
We’re beyond excited as we enter a new age of heightened activity in space when new digital tools need to be built and implemented to meet demands for volume, speed, and risk reduction. We continue to see modern enterprises evolve in terms of increasing collaboration, with both remote and asynchronous operations critical to the overall success of modern space operations. Together, these drivers push a constant need towards continuous organizational improvement, aided by data driven modeling and analysis.
In the immediate future, space launch and satellite operations require digital tools that have the ability to integrate with multiple command and telemetry platforms, integrate various additional data sources and post-processing tools, and the ability to automate decisions based on this data.
How do you know which digital tools are the best fit for your operations team? How do you know you’re making the most of your time and money while also improving communication? How do you build, refine, or implement the tools that will help your team keep up with the accelerating growth of an industry we’re all so passionate about?
In this article, we’ll give you an overview of the pros and cons of the most well-known open source and COTS software available. We’ll walk you through it all step by step, covering:
• General pros and cons of any open source software vs. commercial off-the-shelf software.
• Available open source telemetry and command software features and benefits.
• Available commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software features and benefits.
• The pros and cons of building in-house command and telemetry software
• How to keep pace with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tool adoption/innovation
GENERAL PROS & CONS OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE VS. COTS SOFTWARE
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE BENEFITS
It’s free and comes with less stringent licensing requirements.
Open source software potentially works across multiple platforms.
Bug fixes can happen quickly without going through any kind of approval process.
Because this software is transparent by design, it can be audited for security purposes.
Open source software is often written by the same engineers who create commercial software for specific companies.
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE DRAWBACKS
Increased security risks. When you’re not quite sure who wrote the code, your data may become vulnerable.
Lifetime costs add up beyond upfront software and hosting costs.
Less streamlined and focused innovation opportunities.
There’s no certainty that the software will be compatible with the user’s off the shelf.
Limited technical support is provided by volunteers rather than paid staff members.
Limited hands-on application training.
Depending on what your team needs, it’s important to consider that open source software is usually technology focused, not business focused.
“Because vendors need to ensure their technology doesn’t become redundant, users benefit from targeted innovation. [COTS software is ] really business-focused rather than technology-focused.”
Helen Corin, General Manager of Public Sector’s Adobe Experience Manager Center of Excellence at Adobe
COMMERCIAL OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS) SOFTWARE BENEFITS
Usage and licensing requirements are clear with guaranteed support.
You know exactly who to contact if there are problems.
A clear upgrade and development plan.
Much more secure as only the commercial organization can edit the source code.
Users benefit from targeted and continuous innovation specific to improving mission outcomes.
Business-targeted software.
More robust product from a trusted brand that helps teams scale.
COMMERCIAL OFF-THE-SHELF SOFTWARE DRAWBACKS
Strict licensing and use guidelines.
Licensing fees can be high.
Proprietary source code means you’re unable to access and tailor the code yourself
OPEN SOURCE COMMAND AND TELEMETRY SOFTWARE FEATURES AND BENEFITS
OPEN MCT - NASA
Open MCT is used by NASA for data analysis of spacecraft missions. It’s a generalized and open source framework that can be used as the basis for building applications for planning, operation, and analysis of any systems producing telemetry data.
“Open MCT is a next-generation mission operations data visualization framework. Web-based, for desktop and mobile.”
• Can be adapted for planning and operations of any system that produces telemetry.
• Displays streaming and historical data, imagery, timelines, procedures, and other data visualizations, all in one place.
Yamcs is another frequently used open-source software framework for command and control of
spacecrafts, satellites, payloads, ground stations and ground equipment. It targets general MCS, both for operations of spacecraft, payloads and ground equipment, and for activities during assembly, integration and testing.
There are two main modules in the Yamcs suite: Yamcs Core and Yams Applications.
Yamcs Suite comprises two main modules: Yamcs Core (server and archive system) and Yamcs Applications (current and future plugin models).
Cosmos is open source–all code can be inspected and modified. Many people and teams have used Cosmos from universities to industry to government operations.
It’s made up of 17+ applications that allow control of hardware that includes test equipment, development boards, instruments, and complete satellites. For teams looking for a no-cost start, Cosmos can be configured on Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX operating systems.
COSMOS PROJECT - Hawaii Space Laboratory
The Cosmos Project is a system that’s designed to primarily support the development and operations of one or more small spacecraft. It’s geared toward organizations with a limited development and operations budget, such as universities.
Cosmos was designed to be integrated and compatible with multiple different resources or nodes such as satellites, unmanned air systems (UASs), ground control stations, computer stations, etc. It’s also being expanded to address simulation scenarios with complex nodal architectures where events can be detected and trigger actions.
Cosmos has been developed in the new paradigm of the network-of-things where any asset can be connected to the system in a plug and play approach making it very generic for the inclusion and removal of assets.
This mission open source software is a spin-off company of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
WHAT ARE USERS SAYING? THE PROS AND CONS OF OPEN SOURCE MISSION CONTROL SOFTWARE
If you want to see what real users are saying, this Y Combinator forum thread has plenty of thoughts about the pros and cons from aerospace industry professionals who have used these and other open source software platforms.
COMMERCIAL OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS) MISSION COMMAND AND TELEMETRY SOFTWARE
GROUND & FLIGHT SOFTWARE
This cloud-based mission control software helps teams eliminate the costs and expenses associated with in-house software design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. The user interface is customizable to meet the needs of individual mission operators.
The architecture is modular which makes it possible to tailor its features to support any spacecraft or satellite protocol. Some of its main features include: web interface accessible from any location and on any computer platform (even mobile!), support for telemetry, trajectory updates, telecommand, and downstream through graphical and command-line controls, and fully customizable interface that can be adapted.
Major Tom is a commercial software that aims to help companies maintain infrastructure on the cloud as satellite operators increase the speed of satellite deployment and volume of data collected from satellites.
As a COTS software mission control product, its main goal is to help companies meet on-demand scaling without needing to constantly update and invest in home-grown mission control solutions. They follow a cloud migration strategy that allows for no disruption of on-orbit assets or on-premises ground systems.
Major Tom’s architecture is modular and customizable to help teams integrate technologies that help them control satellites from a browser. They provide a platform for teams to share data between multiple ground applications and services, and use APIs that keep the whole program together.
Epsilon3: INTEGRATION SOFTWARE
Epsilon3 is designed to help teams integrate external data and systems into one place to help them streamline their processes and improve efficiency while reducing risk. Our software organizes customer systems into one central API, including storage systems, ground and flight software (like Aurora and Major Tom), work orders, and requirements.
Our customers are constantly helping us integrate more and more of the process into one platform to save resources across the board.
At Epsilon3, we build our software in partnership with our customers. We consider them part of our team as we work passionately to improve mission testing and operations. As the space industry rapidly expands, our product helps teams modernize, scale, and reduce risk.
Our software manages complex operational procedures, saving operators time and reduces errors. It supports the entire life cycle of a project from integration and testing through live operations. Some of the features we’re most excited about are:
• Interactive real-time synchronized procedures for multiple programs/missions
• Embedded release process including approvals, edits, in-line feedback, and track changes between revisions
• Query-able database of as-run procedures
• Manual and automated procedure views and capabilities
• Integrated telemetry, command and control, and mission data
• Detailed analytics, reports, and dashboards
You can take a product tour here, or sign up for a demo here from one of our team members. We’ll answer your questions honestly about whether or not a COTS or open source product is the best way for you and your team.
THE PROS AND CONS OF BUILDING IN-HOUSE COMMAND AND TELEMETRY SOFTWARE
PROS
Low entry cost point
Ability to access and modify code
Fully customizable
No licensing barriers
Technology-focused
CONS
Long-term costs can inhibit teams from scaling and competing with growing demand
Team members spend more time developing and problem-solving in-house software than engineering successful missions
Prohibits teams and companies from competing with more business-focused companies who are scaling and innovating
Security issues are out of your control
Not business-growth focused
THE STATUS AND FUTURE OF MODEL-BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (MBSE) IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY
The space industry is rapidly adopting Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools and scaling them to larger, more complex development activities. The industry sees scaling as a natural extension of ongoing digitization efforts.
These rapid scaling and extension efforts result in reusable, validated libraries containing models, model fragments, patterns, contextualized data, etc. They will enable their ability to build upon, transform, and synthesize new concepts and missions, which has, and will continue to have, great attraction to both industry and government organizations alike.
Real-time collaboration and refinement of these validated libraries into either “single source” or “authoritative sources” of truth provide further appeal as usable knowledge can be pulled together much more quickly from a far wider breadth of available knowledge than was ever before.
Model-based engineering enables a communication framework that helps facilitate an integrated view and connected data flow of the product's data throughout its lifecycle and helps to deliver the right information at the right time and at the right place.
Aerospace teams need to keep pace in order to continue to communicate with each other and government institutions, manage and monitor supply chain activities, and provide leadership in spaceflight development.
