UK SBS IT18031 UK Space Agency Astrodynamics Software Library

Tender description

*** This tender requirement was abandoned prior to a Contract award decision. *** This contract is for the supply of relevant astrodynamics and orbital mechanics software to support the development of new risk assessment tools. When placing satellites or spacecraft into orbit around the earth, there is a risk of an unexpected event, such as a collision with another spacecraft in a similar orbit. For the agencies that license these spacecraft and the governments that ultimately underwrite these activities, there is a clear financial risk should collisions occur. As technology evolves and space becomes more accessible, new satellite systems, including so-called 'mega-constellations', formation flying and in-orbit servicing missions, are becoming more complex and numerous. Understanding the risk of collision events in orbit that have financial implications is even more important. Currently UKSA's Orbital Systems Group (OSG), under the Chief Engineers Office, is developing new risk assessment codes and tools to attempt to quantify the likelihood of unexpected events in orbit. These codes are to be developed as first principles capabilities, and as such require an underpinning ability to propagate orbiting objects accurately, robustly and efficiently. To accelerate the development of these tools, the use of existing astrodynamics software to provide this functionality is desired. This contract is being placed to acquire a low-level library of supporting astrodynamics functionality, including orbital propagators, that can be integrated into the OSG developed software, and be used and developed and released by members of the Orbital Systems Group. This software will be essential in the development of risk assessment tools to be used within the UK Space Agency to help inform regulatory and licensing decisions.