U.S. Air Force Research Lab: Rocket Cadence – An Open-Source Alternative for Simulation Modeling

Discipline: IEMS

Advisor: Luis Rabelo

The Post-Landing Booster Recovery and Manifest/Launch Logistics Simulation Projects are creating a next-generation modeling capability for reusable launch operations by integrating booster recovery, manifest flow, and launch logistics into a unified simulation environment. In modern launch systems, operational success depends not only on launch execution, but also on how efficiently recovered boosters are transported, processed, scheduled, and reintroduced into the mission pipeline. Traditional simulation platforms often provide strong baseline capabilities, but their cost, licensing structure, and limited adaptability can create barriers for teams that need transparent data access, rapid model updates, and repeatable engineering analysis. These challenges are particularly important in aerospace environments, where schedules, resource constraints, and infrastructure assumptions evolve quickly. This project addresses that gap by designing a reproducible and adaptable simulation framework that supports detailed engineering analysis of recovery and launch-support operations. Prior models are being reimplemented and evaluated in the new framework to assess its ability to represent real operational workflows while improving flexibility and accessibility. The final product will support data-driven scenario evaluation, faster design iteration, and more effective analysis of operational alternatives. Intended for use by GTI and collaborators involved in advanced launch operations, the project contributes to a more scalable, reusable, and cost-effective approach to simulation-based planning for the future of spaceport systems.

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