Welcome to the SIMPLEX web page!
SIMPLEX is a software tool for simulating planetary science missions. The tool runs either as a batch program or with an interactive user interface where users can edit engineering and operational parameters and quickly see the impact of their choices in terms of the quality and amount of science data collected throughout the mission. The tool is especially helpful with comparing candidate trajectories.
SIMPLEX is currently being developed for NASA's Europa Mission. The mission will conduct detailed observations of Jupiter’s moon Europa to determine if Europa can harbor conditions suitable for life.
The Europa Mission is a joint effort between The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU-APL) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
The Mission GUI has general information about the mission: name, target body, orbital body, type of mission, file system location of input data, the target location of the simulator output, and a list of NAIF/SPICE kernel files.
The Flybys GUI page shows a list of flybys for the mission. The list is auto populated when you add a body on the Bodies page. Here you can select the flybys you wish to include in your simulation.
SIMPLEX has a job monitor to show you the progress of your simulation.
SIMPLEX provides plots per flyby of each of the instruments as well as cumulative maps showing the progression of coverage over the course of the mission.
SIMPLEX’s output files are organized and displayed through a clearly organized HTML web page.
SIMPLEX’s output files include graphics showing total data contribution by instrument and groundtrack crossings.
SIMPLEX includes a Users Guide which can also be downloaded from the Support page.
November 18, 2016, 2016
Build 7 Output Files Available
SIMPLEX Build 7 output files are now available for download (zip) on the Outputs page. These simulation results use the 16-F11 trajectory.
September 2, 2016, 2016
Build 7 Released
SIMPLEX Build 7 is now available. This new release includes two trajectories: 15-F10 and the more recent 16-F11. To request a copy of this beta software, click the green email icon in the upper right corner of this web page.
May 12, 2016
Build 6 Output Files Available
SIMPLEX Build 6 output files are available for download (zip) on the Outputs page.
April 5, 2016
Build 6 Available
SIMPLEX Build 6 contains the initial modeling of the selected payload. To request a copy of this beta software, click the green email icon in the upper right corner of this web page.
November 5, 2015
Europa Flight System Version 10.3 - No impact on SIMPLEX
The Model-based Systems Engineering Team (MSET) released the Europa Flight System Version 10.3 on 11/5/15. There is no impact to SIMPLEX.
September 25, 2015
Europa Flight System Version 10.2 - No impact on SIMPLEX
The Model-based Systems Engineering Team (MSET) released the Europa Flight System Version 10.2 on 9/21/15. There is no impact to SIMPLEX.
September 16, 2015
Update to Build 5A available
Build 5A has been updated with the latest trajectory 15F10. Click the green email button at the top of this page if you would like to receive the new version.
August 17, 2015
Europa Flight System Version 10.1 - No impact on SIMPLEX
The Model-based Systems Engineering Team (MSET) released the Europa Flight System Version 10.1 on 8/12/15. There is no impact to SIMPLEX.
June 11, 2015
Build 5A released.
This incremental build contains improved coverage analysis and mapping. It also contains the new 15F9-A22 trajectory. The notional instruments are used.
April 7, 2015
Build 5 released.
This release includes new requested functionality, including:
- New Analysis tab where users can add several different analysis parameters to the run-time options.
- New Mission Design runtime option which produces outputs to support the MD/Nav analyses of trajectories.