We are pleased to announce the release of Space Station OS v0.8.6, the latest milestone in our open-source effort to build a modular ROS 2–based software stack for space station operations and simulation.
This version completes the first fully integrated loop between orbital dynamics, GNC telemetry publishing, and OpenMCT-based ground visualization.
It brings together simulation, control, and monitoring in one coherent framework.
Key Features
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Orbital Dynamics Module
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ECI propagation including J2 and atmospheric drag
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Automated thruster triggering and CMG switching logic
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GNC Mode Actuation Service
/gnc/set_mode_actuationenables runtime switching between AUTO / CMG / THRUSTER modes
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Ground Dashboard (OpenMCT)
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Real-time orbit visualization via ROSBridge WebSocket
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3D Earth and ISS models (
earth.glb,SD_SpaceStation_Ver05.dae, managed via Git LFS)
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System Infrastructure
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Unified launch flow via
open_mct-bridge.sh -
Updated CI workflows for ROS 2 Humble + Docker
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General refactoring across GNC, ECLSS, and thermal modules
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Resources
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Repository: github.com/space-station-os/space_station_os
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Release notes: v0.8.6
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Documentation: Wiki
About Space Station OS
Space Station OS aims to provide an open, ROS 2–native platform for simulation and control of space station subsystems (GNC, EPS, ECLSS, Thermal, and more).
It is community-driven, simulation-first, and designed for interoperability with existing tools such as Space ROS and OpenMCT.
Next Steps
The upcoming v0.8.7-dev branch will focus on:
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ECLSS telemetry integration
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EPS control layer
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Multi-subsystem data visualization and orchestration
Contributions, discussions, and feedback are very welcome!