QuickSAT-Xen, A Satellite Hypervisor Environment

DornerWorks is seeking to develop the QuickSAT based Xen Space Hypervisor, a space qualified hypervisor that will support the virtualization of satellite payloads, systems and software modules on a full range of space vehicles from CubeSATs to large satellites and launch vehicles. The Xen Space Hypervisor is an extended version of the open source Xen that includes elements of the ARINC 653 partitioning standard, isolating applications running on the same platform providing high levels of security. QuickSAT with the open source stepSATdb data architecture is a satellite design, mission planning, and product lifecycle management framework and environment.For the Phase II research effort we will develop the core tools of the Xen Space Hypervisor, integrate the space hypervisor with QuickSAT/Designer to develop virtualized payloads and map them to specific cores in the processor, and integrate the space hypervisor with the QuickSAT/VMS, an on board health, and vehicle and configuration management tool.The research will culminate in the near space test flight of QuickSAT-Xen in a high altitude balloon on equipment similar to that being flown on the BUSat CubeSAT mission, a mission the QuickSAT-Xen Space Hypervisor has been selected to fly on for flight certification during SBIR Phase III commercialization.