ASTOS

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ASTOS is a cross‑platform software tool for space mission analysis, trajectory optimization, vehicle design, and simulation. It helps plan launches and re‑entries, orbital transfers, Earth observation missions, navigation coverage, and re‑entry safety assessments. The program uses a data‑driven interface and can automatically generate initial guesses to speed up calculations. Since 1989, with support from the European Space Agency, ASTOS has evolved into a flexible tool for solving complex multi‑phase optimal control problems. It is widely used by ESA and the aerospace industry to analyze missions and design optimal trajectories, and it was used by ESA to assess risks during the Jules Verne ATV re‑entry. ASTOS runs on Windows and Linux and is maintained and sold by Astos Solutions GmbH. The project began at DLR and MBB in 1989, was further developed by the IFR at the University of Stuttgart from 1991, commercialized in 1999, and managed by Stuttgart’s Technology Transfer Initiative from 2001 to 2006. Since 2006, Astos Solutions GmbH has led development and sales. The software has been widely used by space agencies and industry since 1998. The current stable release is 9.17.0 (April 2, 2021). ASTOS was formerly named ALTOS.