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Main Author: Gupta, Anubhav
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.12443
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author Gupta, Anubhav
author_facet Gupta, Anubhav
contents Basilisk is an open-source astrodynamics simulation framework widely used for spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) research and development. Despite its flexibility and computational capabilities, configuring Basilisk consistently across heterogeneous development environments presents practical challenges due to dependency management, operating system compatibility, and software configuration requirements. This paper presents a Docker-based containerization workflow for Basilisk that encapsulates the complete build environment, dependencies, and simulation infrastructure within a portable container image. The workflow is demonstrated through a progression of simulation scenarios of increasing complexity, from standalone orbital dynamics scripts to BSKSim-based attitude dynamics and control simulations with Monte Carlo analysis. The BSKSim class hierarchy, dynamics model architecture, flight software implementation, and scenario execution patterns are described in detail. The presented workflow provides a self-contained implementation reference for GN&C engineers and researchers seeking reproducible and portable Basilisk simulation environments. This work expands upon a workshop presentation delivered at the 46th Rocky Mountain AAS GN&C Conference, February 2024, available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15008785.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_12443
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Basilisk and Docker for Reproducible GN&C Simulation: A Workflow Reference
Gupta, Anubhav
Systems and Control
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Mathematical Software
Software Engineering
Basilisk is an open-source astrodynamics simulation framework widely used for spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) research and development. Despite its flexibility and computational capabilities, configuring Basilisk consistently across heterogeneous development environments presents practical challenges due to dependency management, operating system compatibility, and software configuration requirements. This paper presents a Docker-based containerization workflow for Basilisk that encapsulates the complete build environment, dependencies, and simulation infrastructure within a portable container image. The workflow is demonstrated through a progression of simulation scenarios of increasing complexity, from standalone orbital dynamics scripts to BSKSim-based attitude dynamics and control simulations with Monte Carlo analysis. The BSKSim class hierarchy, dynamics model architecture, flight software implementation, and scenario execution patterns are described in detail. The presented workflow provides a self-contained implementation reference for GN&C engineers and researchers seeking reproducible and portable Basilisk simulation environments. This work expands upon a workshop presentation delivered at the 46th Rocky Mountain AAS GN&C Conference, February 2024, available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15008785.
title Basilisk and Docker for Reproducible GN&C Simulation: A Workflow Reference
topic Systems and Control
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Mathematical Software
Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.12443