Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate


Modular Unified Space Technology Avionics for Next Generation (MUSTANG)

Ocean Color Instrument MUSTANG Instrument Command and Data Unit
Ocean Color Instrument MUSTANG Instrument Command and Data Unit

Reliable, Flexible Avionics Solutions with Proven Space Heritage, Tailored for Small to Mid-Size Spacecraft and Payloads

MUSTANG is a small integrated Avionics system including Command and Data Handling (C&DH), Power System Electronics (PSE), Attitude Control Interfaces (ACS), and Propulsion Electronics. Decades of experience across diverse engineering specialties at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center was leveraged to develop MUSTANG as a long-term solution to reduce programmatic and technical risk when delivering Avionics solutions to spacecraft or payloads.

MUSTANG offers flexibility with a backplane-less design and empowers the user to choose specific options and features needed for their system. Its form factor allows compatibility with small/mid-size instruments and/or spacecraft and enables implementation as either a fully integrated box or separate sub-assemblies. MUSTANG also supports redundancy and cross-strap functions for a robust and reliable Avionics system architecture.

The MUSTANG architecture has proven space heritage aboard PACE/OCI, GEDI, and ILLUMA-T, and is currently part of the design solution for projects such as CODEX, CCRS and DAVINCI+.


Modular Unified Space Technology Avionics for Next Generation (MUSTANG) capabilities are managed by ETD’s Electrical Engineering Division (Code 560). Contact ETD for more information.