European Space Agency launches model library with Cogsys ESL

Citation

(2001), "European Space Agency launches model library with Cogsys ESL", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773bab.017

European Space Agency launches model library with Cogsys ESL

European Space Agency launches model library with Cogsys ESL

Keywords European Space Agency, Software, Testing

The European Space Agency informs us that it is using Cogsys (European simulation language) to create a library of models for the testing of software prior to launch.

ESL 7.0 is used by the European Space Research & Technology Centre (ESTEC) to simulate the space environment in order to validate on-board software. Cogsys ESL is a "recognised standard" continuous system simulation language which was originally evolved from a series of contracts with the European Space Agency over a period of 20 years.

ESL Version 7.0 was launched in January 2000 with a powerful new graphical interface, including a graphical editor for block diagrams to speed model development. ESL is said to have a robust simulation engine proven over the years of work in advanced space and engineering projects.

"We have successfully used ESL on a number of projects before and it fits perfectly the requirements of this environment. For software validation ESL is our preferred language", says Stig Mejnertsen, systems software engineer at ESTEC.

ESL was used as part of the independent software validation for the XMM Spacecraft (launched December 1999).

The MOLISOVA library project for software validation is now complete and the ESL models, which provide dynamic features of the simulation, are being integrated into the reference projects to test satellite systems. Furthermore, ESL is being used for the Rosetta spacecraft for rendezvous with the comet Wirtanen (to be launched in 2003). More about ESA missions can be seen at www.esa.int.

Cogsys ESL is available with full technical support and maintenance for PC Windows NT and Sun Solaris platforms.

Further details are available from Cogsys Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)161 745 7604; Fax: +44 (0)161 736 2634; E-mail: info@cogsys.com; Web site: www.cogsys.com