Orekit, a low level space dynamics library written in Java, has gained widespread recognition since it was released under an open-source license in 2008.

Low level space dynamics library

Orekit aims at providing accurate and efficient low level components for the development of flight dynamics applications. It is designed to be easily used in very different contexts, from quick studies up to critical operations.

As a library, Orekit provides basic elements (orbits, dates, attitude, frames, ...) and various algorithms to handle them (conversions, propagations, pointing, ...).

Free (open-source) software

Orekit is freely available both in source and binary formats, with all related documentation and tests.

Orekit is distributed under the Apache License version 2.0, a well known business-friendly license. This means anybody can use it to build any application, free or not. There are no strings attached to user code.

• Orekit has already been successfully used during the real time monitoring of the rendez-vous phase between the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) and the International Space Station (ISS) by the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES, the French space agency) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

• Orekit has been selected in early 2011 by CNES to be the basis of its next generation space flight dynamics systems, including operational systems, study systems and mission analysis systems.

• Orekit has been used for several studies and ground systems developments by various industrial actors such as EUMETSAT.

• Orekit is used for training purposes at ISAE.

Development

Orekit has been in development since 2002 inside CS Systèmes d'Information and is still used and maintained by its space dynamics experts.

Several major actors of space research and industry are now involved into this project.

Open governance

The Orekit project is driven according to an open governance model, involving representatives from different space field actors in a Project Management Committee (PMC).