Flight Software for Space Systems - 675.754

This survey course reviews the architectures, designs, and implementations of spacecraft flight software systems. The course provides an overview of typical command and data handling software functions and the open-source tools, frameworks, and applications that can implement them. A semester-long programming assignment is provided to build a working flight software system. Special topics include application to resource-constrained Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, spacecraft security, and space-based networking. Flight software encompasses the complete set of computer instructions running on every processor on a spacecraft.

Course Prerequisite(s)

Completion of EN.675.600 Systems Engineering for Space and EN.675.601 Fundamentals of Engineering Space Systems I, experience programming in C, or with approval of the instructor.