INVAP Accelerates their Space Software Development

At INVAP, Argentina’s leading satellite manufacturer and space systems integrator, the development of sophisticated flight software for space missions requires robust, high-fidelity simulation capabilities.

To meet these demands, INVAP integrated TEMU, the Terma emulator, into its software-simulation infrastructure. With the integration, TEMU has become a cornerstone for validation and testing of software across multiple mission families, and enhances the engineering efficiency significantly while supporting INVAP’s long-term mission goals.

Although the TEMU-based infrastructure was originally adopted to address the requirements of a LEO Earth-observation mission, currently the setup is developed to position INVAP for future GEO missions and evolving LEO product lines. This multi-mission approach ensures that the same simulation foundation can be re-used and expanded as new programs advance through development.

TEMU Solves the Challenge of Realistic, High-Performance Execution

INVAP's search for an advanced simulation solution was driven by a critical technical requirement: to achieve near real-time execution performance at approximately 1x speed for both Software Verification Facility (SVF) and Dynamic Satellite Simulator (DSS) environments.

Without this performance, engineers could not realistically model flight software behavior or efficiently run campaign-level test sequences.

After evaluating several alternatives, INVAP engineers selected TEMU for its technical alignment with performance goals, broad platform support, and deep compatibility with existing simulation frameworks. TEMU delivered the responsiveness and extensibility necessary to closely mirror operational conditions, something that proved crucial for rigorous software verification.

High-Fidelity Simulation Across Platforms

TEMU now serves as a core component of INVAP’s SMP2-based simulation framework, known internally as SGS-CC (Simulation & Ground Segment – Common Core). Integrated tightly into this ecosystem, TEMU brought:

• Broad and robust GRLIB support, ensuring accurate emulation of LEON3 and LEON4 processors
• High extensibility and smooth integration with INVAP’s SMP2-centric simulation tools
• Real-time execution (≥1×) that enables realistic validation and test environments

This robust combination allows software developers and mission engineers to run complex simulations that closely replicate real mission scenarios, improving confidence in software behavior and reducing the need for costly late-stage debugging.

Smooth Integration and Accelerated Development

Throughout the integration process, INVAP highlighted the high quality of technical support from Terma, noting that close collaboration helped reduce onboarding overhead and enabled rapid alignment between TEMU and the SGS-CC simulation suite.

This cooperative engagement allowed INVAP engineers to focus on solving mission-specific problems rather than wrestling with tooling issues.

Once deployed, TEMU delivered measurable improvements in workflow efficiency and software quality.

By expanding the number of fully simulated test environments, INVAP teams were able to run flight-software validation activities earlier and more frequently. This shift allowed them to execute large-scale test campaigns sooner, and were able to get:

• Faster software verification cycles
• Earlier detection of potential software errors
• Improved project efficiency and reduced schedule risk

To maximize mission assurance, INVAP integrates TEMU into a full-scope Dynamic Satellite Simulator (DSS). This high-fidelity environment, featuring an orbit propagator, attitude dynamics, and precise environmental modeling, pairs with component-level subsystem models to create a true "digital twin." This allows INVAP to validate flight software against granular physical realities long before hardware integration.

The performance and realism offered by TEMU empowered engineers to explore edge cases and scenarios that would otherwise be difficult to reproduce in hardware-only environments. With this ability, engineering teams gained access to realistic simulation environments that better prepared them for actual mission operations.

Extensible Architecture is a Foundation for Software Confidence and Mission Success

Among TEMU’s most valued features is its API for bus model extensions. This feature, which includes models of different buses such as 1553, SpaceWire, CAN, Ethernet and Serial, enables INVAP to integrate custom peripheral models seamlessly into their simulation environment and allows mission-specific hardware behaviors to be included in software validation models by providing engineers with greater fidelity and flexibility without compromising the unified simulation architecture.

With TEMU embedded deeply into INVAP’s simulation infrastructure, the organization now benefits from a platform that is:

• Scalable across multiple missions and architectures
• Capable of near real-time, high-fidelity execution
• Supportive of earlier testing and validation cycles
• Adaptable through extensible APIs for custom mission modeling

This foundation not only supports current projects but also lays the groundwork for rapid adoption on future space programs which in turn ensures that INVAP’s flight software teams can maintain high confidence in launch-critical code well ahead of integration and flight tests.

By combining its internal expertise with TEMU’s proven emulation capabilities, INVAP has strengthened its development process and empowered engineering teams with realistic, flexible, and high-performance simulation tools.

This approach is helping to accelerate software delivery, improve reliability, and ensure that future missions are underpinned by validated, mission-ready software – no-matter if it’s in LEO, GEO, or beyond.

Who is INVAP?

INVAP, Argentina’s leading satellite manufacturer and space systems integrator, combines advanced engineering, flight hardware and software development to deliver reliable space missions. Through integrated design and verification capabilities, including near real-time simulation environments, INVAP enhances early testing and accelerates mission validation across multiple programs.

INVAP specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and integration of advanced satellite platforms, payloads and onboard computers for Earth observation, communications and scientific missions. With decades of experience delivering mission-critical space systems, the company has established itself as a key player in Latin America’s space industry, providing end-to-end solutions for both government and commercial programs.