Project

The General Open Orbital Dynamics (GOOD) Platform proposal, a major collaborative research initiative between the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the University of Groningen (RUG), has been awarded funding and is set to commence in the second quarter of 2026. The 36-month project aims to transform the field of orbital dynamics by creating a fully transparent, open, and reproducible platform for data and solution archiving.

The GOOD Platform will tackle a key barrier in space research: the lack of open-source, scalable software for complex orbital dynamics. It will integrate TU Delft’s open-source orbital dynamics software, Tudat,with the University of Groningen’s WISE-based scalable data-handling system, which provides complete data-lineage and reproducibility. This collaboration will support progress in critical areas, from space situational awareness (ensuring safe spacecraft operations) to planetary science (studying the origin and evolution of solar system bodies).

The University of Groningen is a key partner in this proposal, playing a central role in developing the platform’s data-handling and data-traceability capabilities which stems out of a long term collaborative effort between the Kapteyn Institute and the Center for Information Technology (CIT).

Key participants from the University of Groningen and their contributions include:

• Dr Eduardo Balbinot, astronomer at Kapteyn, will be responsible for the large-scale analysis, focusing on the extraction of astrometry and asteroid data from major archives. His role will also involve exploring the synergies between this project and relevant astronomical applications.
• Dr Rees Williams (CIT), astronomer and Senior Project Manager in the Research Support Domain, will participate in the architectural design and in ensuring the final system is robust and scalable.
• Dr Gijs Verdoes Kleijn, Research astronomer, lead OmegaCEN Astronomical Science Data Center, will lead the core development and co-lead dissemination/outreach efforts. His expertise is in adapting the robust WISE technology, currently used for astronomical sky surveys, for solar system use.

“The GOOD Platform is a game-changer for the scientific community and industry alike” says Dr Balbinot, from the University of Leiden/Groningen. "Integrating the traceability of the WISE system with the high-fidelity of Tudat will ensure that all orbital dynamics research conducted on this platform is FAIR—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. We are proud to bring Groningen's expertise in large-scale data handling to this pioneering effort in open science." Dr. Rees Williams says: “The production platform will be hosted by the University of Groningen facility for Big Data handling AI and Robotics for Research (BDAIRR). BDAIRR has all of the components necessary for a cost-effective solution.” Dr Verdoes Kleijn says: “what makes me enthusiastic as a scientist about GOOD is that it fuses across the country the expertises of groups in advanced Big Data handling expertise, in precision astrometry and in dynamical orbit determination. What makes me enthusiastic about GOOD as a European citizen is that the project represents an adventure into an innovative socio-economic area: “planetary safety”.

The project is led by main applicant Dr Dominic Dirkx from Delft University of Technology. Other core team members include Dr Marco Langbroek and Dr Steve Gehly from TU Delft, who

will co-lead the Near-Earth SSA topic development. The platform is scheduled for an open beta release in two years, with the final platform launching after three years.

The developer will be part of a team that will develop the platform.

The team will develop GOOD-WISE components for data models, workflows, and databases used across applications, adapting WISE technology from image surveys to solar system use, including embedding Tudat configurations in automated and user-driven pipelines. The team will coordinate with the Tudat team and the developer will contribute to the preliminary Tudat/GOOD-WISE integration. Application-and model-specific extensions will be made to support digital services and functionalities for human-made objects (spacecraft and space debris) and for natural celestial bodies (planets, moons, asteroids, etc.). This includes interfaces for extracting asteroid tracks from astronomical survey archives like Euclid, LSST, ESO surveys and JWST. This includes completion of complete data models, workflows, and database structures (preliminary before beta launch). Iimplementation of automatic analysis updates.

We are looking for the following qualifications and experience:

• A PhD or at least university degree in a relevant subject (e.g. astronomy, computer science, software engineering, informatics).
• Experience in developing optical/near-infrared astronomical data reduction applications in ANSI-C or C++, excellent knowledge of Python, XML and good knowledge of other scripting languages like Perl. The operating system environments are Linux and MacOS.
• Software engineering experience: setting up and maintaining development environments for software prototyping and software; regression testing (e.g., SVN/Git, GNU auto tools).
• Experience in architectural and detailed software design and data modeling-software engineering.
• Experience in the orbital determination of solar system objects together with an understanding of the impact of the accuracy of the astrometry.
• Affinity with astronomical instrumentation.
• Pro-active and independent working attitude.
• Team player, communicative, experience with distributed software project teams is an advantage.
• Flexibility in dealing with different organisational cultures and structures.
• Mastery of the English language, both written and spoken.
• Prepared to travel to Delft University of Technology partner meetings, and international meetings.

At the University of Groningen (UG), you work at a broad top-class university that covers all fields of academia and technology. Support staff members offer a vital contribution to the effort made by lecturers and researchers toward the development of talent and a better, sustainable society. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.