In 2017, the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart (GER) built, launched, and operated their first satellite mission, “Flying Laptop.” This mission was controlled using traditional mission control software, requiring significant effort to adapt the ground segment to meet their needs. Many solutions had to be developed in-house and integrated into the operational software stack. Technically speaking, the system consisted of many smaller solutions, all pieced together, resulting in high maintenance and interface-fixing efforts.
At that time, the institute was already planning future satellite missions. It became evident that the existing solution used for the Flying Laptop mission could not be reused for other missions due to its specificity. The team recognized the need for scalable software capable of supporting multiple missions.
Due to the challenge of operating future satellite missions at the Institute without developing most of the ground segment software from scratch, the team initiated the development of a “Multi Mission Operating System.” This internal project led to the creation of SAT.IO as a startup. SAT.IO’s mission is to simplify satellite missions. To achieve this, SAT.IO offers innovative mission management software designed to streamline and automate satellite operations. This software is specifically tailored for constellation management and multi-mission operations.
The team successfully implemented a Command & Control solution for their second CubeSat mission, EIVE. Launched in June 2023, this mission is currently being operated in orbit using SAT.IO’s mission management software.
The system used today addresses many of the challenges and problems from the early days. It is designed to scale and supports the optimization and automation of current and future satellite missions. The efficiency of satellite operations has dramatically increased, while operational risks have been significantly reduced, even with fewer personnel in the control room.
