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Flight Software

Flight software coordinates all onboard systems, from data handling and command execution to fault management and telemetry. This section explores software architectures, real-time operating systems, bootloaders, state machines, and common libraries used in CubeSat missions. Both bare-metal and RTOS-based approaches are included.

Open-source Flight Software Projects

  • NASA Core Flight System (cFS) – Modular, flight-proven framework used in many missions.
  • LibreCube Software – Open CubeSat components built around space communication standards.
  • OpenSatKit – Full dev environment based on cFS, with simulation and testing tools.
  • PyCubed – A fully open-source CubeSat avionics and software stack in Python/MicroPython.
  • OREsat – Modular open-source flight software stack developed by students at Portland State University.

RTOS and Embedded Platforms

  • FreeRTOS – Lightweight, widely used real-time OS for microcontrollers.
  • Zephyr Project – Scalable, secure RTOS with a growing presence in aerospace.
  • RIOT OS – Real-time OS for low-power, resource-constrained devices.

Commercial Platform