Space mission controllers have been tied to expensive, proprietary communication systems to manage space missions — until now. The German Space Operation Centre (GSOC) has developed and released openvocs as open source software, marking a breakthrough in space mission control technology. The platform is designed for voice communication systems in space mission control rooms and is the first of its kind to be made publicly available.

Operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR — Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfarht) and based in Oberpfaffenhofen, the German Space Operation Centre (GSOC) has been managing spacecraft missions since 1969. As part of this mission, the GSOC initiated the openvocs project in 2014 with the aim of creating a web-based mission control room using only open source code. After over a decade of development, openvocs was finally open sourced last week under an Apache Licence 2, with most of its code being developed from scratch by the openvocs team. The project is available to download on GitHub.

“Before openvocs, there were no systems available that were free and accessible, so we had to build the system ourselves,” says Markus Töpfer, initiator and lead developer of openvocs. “We faced a lot of challenges. We initially tried to use only open source software with the intention of adapting them. But we faced many technical issues, so we started building the system on our own.”

Voice Communication Systems (VoCS), such as radios, are essential infrastructure for space missions. They serve as the primary means of coordination within space operations control centres. Verbal communication remains the most practical, precise and rapid method of transmitting information between people. This is particularly vital for crewed missions and international collaborations such as the International Space Station (ISS), where seamless communication can be mission-critical. 

The VoCS market is very niche with limited competition; only a few manufacturers are capable of providing VoCS. In the absence of manufacturing standards, each vendor can create their own proprietary protocols and interfaces, which hinders interoperability. Yet, space missions are often the result of international collaboration; interoperability is crucial to ensure the smooth running of these operations.

The openvocs project is part of a growing movement within the space industry towards more open and interoperable technologies. This includes software, hardware, and satellite platforms. The goal is to reduce the cost of space assets and operations through more affordable and collaborative practices, while also fostering innovation. Indeed, the GSOC is not the only space organisation to invest in open source technologies. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have also embraced the trend.

Openvocs aims to address the issue of interoperability through a lightweight, open source, and software-based protocol design. “We used a different approach [to current systems]. Openvocs is available on every browser,” explains Töpfer. “The major difference with other systems is that it is scalable to more users and servers.”

As an open source software licensed for free distribution and adaptation, openvocs serves as a development foundation. This enables interested developers and organisations to build custom components and applications tailored to their specific needs. As explained by Töpfer, the platform “allows clients to change and adapt the system to their needs, for instance by implementing a new setup or graphic design.”

This approach differs greatly from that of traditional VoCS systems. Openvocs entirely software-based architecture delivers all necessary functionalities through web interfaces, drastically improving accessibility. Users only require a laptop, headset, and internet browser to connect to the platform — no special devices, client software, keysets, or separate networks are necessary.

Finally, the system’s lightweight protocol minimises data transmission overhead by employing a simpler and more efficient set of rules for handling voice communication in mission control environments. In addition to increasing accessibility, this approach enhances maintainability and simplifies deployment across diverse mission control environments.

Töpfer believes that this new solution will increase interoperability and accessibility, enabling smaller actors to enter the space sector. 

Access to space technologies is becoming more democratised, as shown by projects such as openvocs. This could transform the landscape of space operations, lowering the barriers and opening up to a wider range of participants. Openvocs is an example of the space sector evolving beyond expensive, proprietary systems that have traditionally restricted access to well-funded organisations and states.