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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did FreeFlyer say to its friend? "You're free to go.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FreeFlyer
Developera.i. solutions, Inc.
Stable release
8.0.0 / August 2026
Operating systemWindows, Linux
Platformx86, x86-64
TypeTechnical computing
LicenseProprietary commercial software
Websiteai-solutions.com

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

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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]

Operational and analysis support

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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]

Software tiers

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FreeFlyer includes capabilities for orbit propagation, mission design and analysis, maneuver planning and estimation, orbit determination, tracking data simulation, sensor and coverage analysis, visualization, plotting, and space environment modeling.

Capabilities
* 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[15]
  • Automation of flight dynamics tasks
  • Monte Carlo analysis
  • Collision Avoidance/Conjunction Analysis
  • Formation Flying
  • Mission Plan performance profiling
  • Radio frequency communications analysis
  • Optical communications analysis
  • TCP/IP socket and SQL database interface
  • Orbit determination and error analysis
  • Generic optimization capability for multivariable optimization of user-defined objective functions using SNOPT, IPOPT, and other optimization software
  • Multi-objective optimization enabling optimization of multiple competing objectives simultaneously using a Pareto front dominance framework
  • Generic optimal control through segmented trajectory arcs and specific control models
  • 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
  • Terrain modeling

FreeFlyer scripting

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FreeFlyer contains an object-oriented scripting language and an accompanying integrated development environment.

Below is a basic FreeFlyer script that creates and displays a spacecraft:

// Create a spacecraft object
Spacecraft 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 days While (sc1.ElapsedTime < TimeSpan.FromDays(2)); sc1.Step(); vw.Update(); End;

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "a.i. solutions To Lead Goddard Support Teams". October 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ "NASA Selects a.i. solutions for $95M Flight Dynamics Support Services (FDSS) Contract". October 2009. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Hadron/Analex Awarded $160 Million NASA Contract". May 2002. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  4. ↑ Clabaugh, Jeff (October 2005). "Analex wins $65M Elvis contract extension". Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Missile Defense Agency Engineering and Support Services (MiDAESS) Quality Safety and Mission Assurance (QSMA) Functional Capability Group". January 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  6. ↑ G., Grems; E., Henze; A., Bixby; Mark, Roberts; Thomas, Mann (November 2008). "ENGINEERING REVIEW INFORMATION SYSTEM US Patent 20080005122 a.i. solutions, Inc". Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Johnson Space Center Core Trajectory Subsystem Contract Award". December 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  8. ↑ "JMS Contract Award". Marketwire. January 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  9. ↑ Matusow, Carla; Wiegand, Robert (February 1999). Automated Flight Dynamics Product Generation for the EOS AM-1 Spacecraft (PDF). Spacecraft Ground Control and Data Systems (SCD 2). NASA. hdl:2060/19990102214. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2006.
  10. ↑ Duncan, Matthew; Rand, David K. (January 2008). Close Approach Prediction Analysis of the Earth Science Constellation with the Fengyun-1C Debris (PDF). AAS Space Flight Mechanics Committee. Texas, United States: American Astronautical Society. hdl:2060/20080044864. S2CID 127160287. AAS 08.125. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 October 2021.
  11. ↑ FedBizOpps
  12. ↑ "Apogee Raising Technique for the MMS Formation Flying Mission, by Craig Roberts, Jason Tichy, and Cheryl Gramling". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  13. ↑ "Microsoft HPC Case Study". Microsoft. June 2001. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Mathworks.com". 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
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