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Data-focused software tools created by NASA's Stennis Space Center near St. Louis, Mississippi continue to expand its capabilities and use them across the agency.

Just like software on mobile phones, NASA Data Acquisition System (NDAS) software evolves with updates to meet user needs.

"It's not just because we're looking for new opportunities," said Kris Mobbs, NASA project manager at NASA. "It's because the community of people using this software tells us that everything new is happening and how they use the tool."

As a standard method for collecting rocket propulsion test data, NDA has proven to be a basis for obtaining, displaying and processing a variety of data sets. The flexibility of the software provides solutions for NASA's work in New Mexico and Alabama and is evaluating data acquisition needs in Virginia.

When NASA's white beach testing facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico needed a new data acquisition system with flexible design, the facility was linked to NASA Stennis, as the center has shown success with similar challenges.

“The main benefit of the institution is to have an agency-owned and developed software platform,” said Josh Simmons, head of technical upgrades at White Sands. “Stennis is leading and documenting the way and way the system is written and how other programmers can jump into it and how they design it, and it can keep moving forward, which is key.”

The NASA Stennis team updated its NDAS platform based on the opinions of White Sands staff to make it more adaptable and improve data acquisition rates.

"They want to understand the requirements and develop a flexible application that meets everyone's requirements," Simmons said. "They are always willing to improve it to make it more suitable for a wider audience."

NDA will be the primary data acquisition system that supports test and development projects related to the NASA Orion spacecraft.

“I want to standardize it on white sand,” Simmons said. “I want to showcase the value and versatility of NDA, so people who need it can choose to use it.”

Meanwhile, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, NDA is used in small-scale, subscale and full-scale testing in multiple areas.

Devin Rios Ogle is a contractor software engineer at NASA Marshall, responsible for integrating and upgrading data acquisition systems. The system is used to record data on the test sequence to verify that they occur as expected.

"The visualization of the data is very good compared to other software I've used," Rios Ogle said. "It's easier to see the data you want to view when you want to view. Choose a measurement value and you can see it in graphical form or tabular form, or what you want. It's visually attractive and it's very easy to find what you need."

Rios Ogle is familiar with the database behind the system and understands what the program wants to do. He paid particular attention to the system's built-in modular approach, which allows users to adjust the software as needed, and is a feature that others will find beneficial.

Marcus Jackson, contractor instrumentation and control engineer at NASA Marshall, responded to Ogle's evaluation of NDAS, noting that it allows the center to concentrate multiple systems into a single software package that meets the team's unique needs.

"Ultimately, NDA has provided us with an excellent package that is built specifically for the type of work done by other test booths here and in the United States," Jackson said. "It's easy to install, manage and scale. It doesn't break, but if you do find a bug or problem, the NDAS team is very responsive and can help you find a solution."

The NDA also represents a potential solution for engineers seeking standardized data systems at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, a use that could positively impact the capabilities of the task.

“We are working on standardized alternatives to all Langley facilities,” said Scott Simmons, data systems engineer at NASA Langley. “Standardization has the potential to obtain significant maintenance costs and efficiency due to the sharing of this software. With instances of NDA in a dynamic data system with an 8-foot high-temperature tunnel, we can evaluate it as a potential solution for Langley standardization.”

As the largest hypersonic blow test facility in the United States, the copy of the tunnel is as close as possible, and the treble vehicles encounter flight conditions or sound speeds over six times the speed of the flight at Mach 6.5.

Even with the use of it, NASA Stennis-led software projects continue to boost momentum as they expand their capabilities and collaborate with users.

"The goal is to provide a software portfolio that supports a variety of exciting NASA projects, involving many talented people who collaborate and innovate new software solutions," Mobbs said. “It is a community of innovative, ambitious, supportive engineers and scientists dedicated to advancing NASA’s bold mission.”