Innovative, DDS-based Data Interfaces for Modular Spacecraft

The Air Force has an operational need for the ability to launch satellites on demand. To achieve rapid response, spacecraft components must share common, standardized data and electrical interfaces to enable an integration time within a few days. SPA SWG and USU Space Software Lab prototyped the Satellite Data Model (SDM) to build a self-configuring networking infrastructure with plug-and-playable satellite components. Through components (sensors, actuators, or even application nodes) with self-describing capabilities, SDM allows rapid integration and forms efficient data channels across a common network. Real-Time Innovations (RTI) contributed to this effort by using DDS, OMG’s real-time distributed data delivery standard, to develop a proof-of-concept implementation of SDM. The SDM utilizes DDS’s automatic discovery and publish-subscribe communications model to efficiently handle SPA’s data requirements. RTI plans on further leveraging DDS QoSs to provide the satellite network with more built-in services (data persistence, node liveliness, reliable transmission, etc), improved fault-tolerance, and dynamic configurability. Additionally, we will develop the necessary software solutions to bridge the gap between low speed SPA-U devices (sensors and actuators) and high speed SPA-E/SPA-S devices, allowing a seamless data flow throughout the satellite data network.