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Fragmented space software: Why scaling missions becomes hard
Why fragmented software slows scaling and increases risk
Modern space missions rely on a growing number of software systems, often developed by different teams or suppliers. When these systems evolve independently, fragmentation becomes inevitable, making it harder to maintain consistency, manage change and scale operations over time.
A typical mission depends on several major software layers, including flight software, test and simulation environments, mission operations platforms and service-delivery systems. These software systems are often developed and maintained in isolation, making it harder to ensure that updates in one subsystem flow reliably into the others. Even minor changes can trigger unexpected ripple effects, resulting in inefficiencies and increasing risk over time.
What’s more, in today’s space sector constellations require constant replenishment, mission capabilities continuously evolve and spacecraft are sourced from multiple vendors — all of which introduce significant technical and operational complexity.
As constellations scale and evolve, this fragmentation leads to:
- Costly custom software rewrites
- Delays to launch and service delivery
- Increased operational risk and inefficiency
What’s required is an end-to-end software architecture that connects these components into a single system. HELIX® provides a model-based framework that keeps flight and ground-based software aligned automatically, minimising manual configuration and ensuring consistency across the entire software lifecycle.
By eliminating fragmentation, mission teams gain a unified environment that supports continuous evolution without introducing unnecessary risk.
How HELIX solves fragmentation
HELIX’s model-based, modular architecture:
- Maintains a single source of truth for all mission software
- Reduces inconsistencies across flight and ground operations
- Simplifies updates, enabling smoother scaling of constellations
Instead of patching together separate tools, teams operate within one unified ecosystem, improving speed, efficiency, and reliability.
| Fragmented systems | HELIX approach |
|---|---|
| Manual updates | Automated, model-based sync |
| Multiple sources of truth | Unified mission-wide framework |
| High integration risk | Reduced errors, streamlined scaling |
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Hub: What is HELIX? Overview
Fragmentation slows missions, drives up costs, and increases risk. HELIX eliminates these pain points by unifying software systems under a single framework — ensuring teams can operate efficiently and scale confidently.
See HELIX in action
Request a demo or speak to our engineering team today.