As space missions push farther toward the Moon, Mars, and beyond, autonomy becomes critical. Vast distances introduce long communication delays, making it impractical—if not impossible—for teams on Earth to manage spacecraft operations in real time. NASA is addressing this challenge by developing spacecraft swarms: clusters of small, coordinated satellites designed to operate collaboratively without constant ground control.
The Starling project was launched to lay the technical foundation for this approach. Its first phase, Starling 1.0, proved that basic swarm coordination was possible. The extended mission, Starling 1.5+, took those early lessons further, aiming to shift the swarm from simple coordination to higher-level autonomy, distributed intelligence, and real-time responsiveness.
Smarter Swarms Through Shared Decision-Making
At the core of Starling 1.5+ is the advancement of Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA) software. Unlike traditional satellite systems that wait for Earth-based instructions, DSA allows each spacecraft in the swarm to make independent decisions based on shared rules and mission goals.
This autonomy was put to the test in Earth’s ionosphere. In one experiment, the swarm was programmed so that if any satellite detected a sudden spike in plasma density, it could autonomously alert the rest using crosslink radios. The swarm would then collaboratively design and execute an observation plan, without needing direction from ground control.
The mission also tackled complex data-sharing challenges. Borrowing from internet file-sharing protocols like torrenting, NASA engineers developed a method for splitting large files into smaller chunks, distributing them across the swarm, and then reassembling the data efficiently. This approach made it possible for the spacecraft to share large scientific datasets, perform autonomous software updates, and verify information integrity, all while minimizing the burden on any single satellite and reducing reliance on Earth-based relays.
These tasks were powered by a reactive control language that enables the spacecraft to follow logical rules and adjust behavior dynamically in response to changing conditions. The result was a swarm that can manage itself intelligently, even in communication-limited environments.
Seeing and Navigating Space, Together
Autonomy isn’t just about decision-making—it’s also about awareness. For a swarm to operate safely and effectively in orbit, it needs to understand its environment in real time. That means not only knowing the positions of fellow swarm members but also tracking other nearby objects, including satellites and space debris.
Building on capabilities first tested in Starling 1.0, the extended mission deployed the Starling Formation-Flying Optical Experiment (StarFOX). This system repurposes commercial star trackers normally used for navigation to visually identify and track other satellites and debris in the vicinity. The technology allows the swarm to generate real-time orbital estimates of surrounding “neighbors,” a crucial step toward autonomous collision avoidance and safe maneuvering.
To act on this awareness, NASA integrated a new onboard system called autoNGC, developed at its Goddard Space Flight Center. This software handles navigation, guidance, and control by projecting the future positions of both the swarm and nearby objects. Based on these projections, autoNGC can calculate and execute propulsion maneuvers automatically, enabling each spacecraft to adjust its orbit as needed—without external commands.
With StarFOX, a swarm can see each other as well as the objects around them, and with autoNGC, they can plan maneuvers to avoid those objects autonomously. We’re bringing all of these systems together to complement one another.
Nathan Benz, Project Manager of Starling 1.5+, NASA Ames
Together, StarFOX and autoNGC give the swarm both “eyes” and a “brain,” and more importantly, the ability to observe and intelligently respond to its environment in real time.
What’s Next
The success of Starling 1.5+ is a major step forward in realizing the vision of intelligent, autonomous satellite swarms. The mission demonstrated that spacecraft can go beyond pre-programmed behavior, adapting to complex scenarios and managing themselves with minimal input from Earth.
With distributed autonomy, smart data handling, and onboard navigation systems all working in concert, these technologies are laying the groundwork for future missions in low Earth orbit, cis-lunar space, and eventually, Mars. NASA’s progress suggests that future spacecraft swarms will be capable not just of surviving in deep space, but of thriving there.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.