Redwire's Advanced Configurable Open-system Research Network (ACORN) is a modeling and simulation development environment for space system design, integration, and test.

Using a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA), ACORN offers a scalable, rapidly reconfigurable, closed-loop, end-to-end space system design ecosystem.

ACORN is a complete life-cycle digital engineering tool that provides for risk reduction and mitigation as well as increased mission assurance. The tool also enables significant cost reductions throughout the mission. ACORN enables customers to achieve the following:

• plan: component modeling
• develop: dynamic simulation & visualization
• analyze: analysis & trades toolset
• verify: benchmark evaluation software suite
• integrate: component integration

ACORN is available for export under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) via the United States Department of Commerce under ECCN (Export Control Classification Number) 9D515 and 9E515.

ACORN can be used across a range of applications, including:

• COTS component modeling
• Custom component modeling
• Design Reference Missions (DRMs)
• Mission concept definition and review
• Flight software development
• Satellite component database integration
• Software benchmarking and test
• Subsystem/component trades and analyses
• Spacecraft simulator
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) emulator

Redwire serves a diversity of markets with ACORN, including:

• Component Manufacturers
• Commercial Suppliers
• Constellation Developers
• Payload Developers
• Space Agencies and Government
• Spacecraft Integrators
• Space-enabled Data Analytics
• Colleges and Universities

Key features of the ACORN platform include:

• Dynamic modeling and simulation space environmet via high fidelity physics and environment models
• Design Reference Mission (DRM) focused Configuration GUI with user libraries that provide configuration management and the ability to clone components, spacecraft, and DRMs
• Dynamic messaging system and built-in APIs allow models or segments of software to be exchanged for user- defined software
• API for user customization, components integration, and custom models and flight software modes
• Selection of pre-programmed generic subsystem and component models
• Attitude determination and control flight software for use on modeled spacecraft
• Command and control software for simulated pointing and tracking
• Benchmarking tools and test metrics
• Multiple physical interfaces supported: RS-422, I2C, MIL-STD-1553b, UART, SPI, SDIO, GPIO, Ethernet, Serial, etc.
• Out-of-the-box flight scenarios
• Spacecraft health and status, backplane, and ephemeris data logging
• Vehicle to ground and vehicle to vehicle line of sight and range computations

ACORN can be delivered in the following configurations, depending on customer requirements:

• ACORN-VM/ACORN-S: Software-in-the-Loop (SIL)
• ACORN-R: Processor-in-the-Loop (PIL)
• ACO RN-MT: Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL)