Preliminary Design of the Stellar Apps Software Platform for Developing and Executing On-board Applications

Abstract

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is developing Stellar Apps, an on-board application platform designed for space missions. Third-party applications and system services are deployed as apps. These apps can be executed in isolated environments with configurable access to the spacecraft and its computing resources. This allows users to regularly add, replace, remove, and update Apps to improve the flexibility and reusability of multipurpose spacecraft. Complex applications can be executed and tested in a secure environment, reducing their time to orbit. API-based communication between apps and hardware allows the Stellar Apps platform to be used on a wide variety of spacecraft, including satellites, rovers, space stations, and entire satellite constellations. Access to commonly used artificial intelligence libraries and accelerators paves the way for future space applications. Stellar Apps provides end-to-end services ranging from development on the ground to deployment of Apps in space. The platform is currently available as a prototype at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and is planned for an in-orbit demonstration during the second year of DLR's CAPTn-1 mission. This paper presents the preliminary design of the software platform.