COSMOS — An innovative nodal architecture for controlling large numbers of small satellites and other diverse assets

The Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory (HSFL) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa developed the Comprehensive Open-architecture Solution for Mission Operations Systems (COSMOS) under a three-year NASA grant. This innovative suite of software and hardware was initially designed for supporting the operations of multiple small satellites, but during its development, it evolved into a comprehensive system of systems that is capable of providing nearly all operations functions to support an integrated system of objects to be monitored and controlled, called nodes. These nodes are not limited to spacecraft, but can be almost any type of vehicle or electronic entity that has communication connectivity with the distributed COSMOS system. Even the vehicles themselves can operate COSMOS as their onboard controlling software. HSFL built a 55-kg satellite called Hiakasat that is due to launch on the ORS-4 mission in 2015. This satellite uses COSMOS for its onboard flight software, which integrates seamlessly with the COSMOS system that is being used to operate the mission on the ground. COSMOS is currently being used to monitor research ship gathering data, and even controlling rovers on simulated lunar missions. This innovative nodal architecture will allow a fully integrated system that can combine satellites with UAVs, submersible, ships, and other robotic craft.