NASA GMAT
Space Mission Design for Everyone
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Navigation and Mission Design Branch
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
OSCON 2011
Overview
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Overview
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Why are we here?
To tell you what we’re doing,
and to let you tell us how to do it
better.
Mission Design: What is it?
Intuitively, mission design answers the question:
How do we get from point A to point B (in space)?
Mathematically, it solves the equation:
F = ma
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Usually there are many possible answers. We want to find the one that is:
Fastest;
Mission Design: What is it?
Intuitively, mission design answers the question:
How do we get from point A to point B (in space)?
Mathematically, it solves the equation:
F = ma
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Usually there are many possible answers. We want to find the one that is:
Fastest; Cheapest;
Mission Design: What is it?
Intuitively, mission design answers the question:
How do we get from point A to point B (in space)?
Mathematically, it solves the equation:
F = ma
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Usually there are many possible answers. We want to find the one that is:
Fastest; Cheapest; Safest;
Mission Design: What is it?
Intuitively, mission design answers the question:
How do we get from point A to point B (in space)?
Mathematically, it solves the equation:
F = ma
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
Usually there are many possible answers. We want to find the one that is:
Fastest; Cheapest; Safest; Best
Mission Design’s Greatest Hits
Apollo
NASA GMAT
Joel J. K. Parker
j.parker@nasa.gov
Mission Design
What is it?
How do we do it?
GMAT
Features
Demos
Getting Started
The Bigger Picture
free-return trajectory