Case Study: NASA achieves reliable, automatically generated fault-protection code for Deep Space 1 with MathWorks Stateflow and Simulink Coder

NASA Uses Stateflow and Simulink Coder to Generate Fault-Protection Code for Deep Space 1

NASA needed a fast, reliable way to design and implement the fault‑protection (FP) software for the Deep Space 1 spacecraft under severe time, budget, and staffing constraints. To meet a one‑year development window and allow systems engineers to drive implementation, NASA (via JPL) adopted MathWorks tools—MATLAB, Stateflow, and Simulink Coder—to model state charts and generate flight code automatically.

Using MathWorks’ Stateflow for state‑chart design and Simulink Coder for automatic code generation, the team produced an isomorphic, reusable FP implementation that prevented in‑flight faults (for example, power‑cycling a failing SRU to restore sun acquisition), generated over 230,000 lines of reliable code (~180 LOC/day), completed 100% of mission testing, and contributed to DS1’s record‑breaking operational lifespan and continued rock‑solid performance.

NASA

Wesley Huntress

Associate Administrator for Space Science