Flight software is the code running on a spacecraft’s onboard computers. It manages functions such as monitoring hardware, processing commands, controlling movement, and making autonomous decisions when operators on Earth cannot respond immediately. It may also handle fault detection and recovery.
Because this software can affect spacecraft behavior and mission data, its reliability and integrity are critical. Errors or unauthorized changes could disrupt operations or undermine confidence in telemetry. In practice, teams reduce these risks through careful access control, configuration management, testing, and validation of software updates and commands. Flight software is one part of a broader system that also includes ground stations, command workflows, and communication links.