In the Earth’s orbit, a few centimeters can be the difference between a successful docking and a mission-ending collision. Typically, preparing for these maneuvers took months of extensive data crunching. Now, it takes seconds.

A new collaboration between Flexcompute, Northrop Grumman, and NVIDIA has unveiled a “Physics AI” infrastructure that automates the simulation of spacecraft plume impingement — the chaotic interaction between a thruster’s exhaust and nearby structures.

The partners have slashed simulation timelines by 100x, thereby giving engineers a crystal ball for space operations. This development could lead to more efficient spacecraft operations by enabling lighter designs, improved fuel conservation, and longer mission lifespans. 

“We are able to take the most accurate and scalable physics foundations and evolve them into highly trained, customized Physics AI solutions that engineers can rely on. This work shows how we are transforming the role of simulation, not just speeding it up, but expanding what engineers can confidently solve and how quickly they can act,” said Vera Yang, President and Co-Founder of Flexcompute. 

Physics-informed AI

Space is a place of unknowns, which can lead to volatile events. When a rocket thruster fires in a vacuum, the gas expands instantly and violently. This creates complex thermal loads and physical forces that are nearly impossible to replicate on Earth.

To account for this, engineers typically spend months running millions of hyper-accurate simulations. For this, massive datasets are needed to ensure a spacecraft wouldn’t accidentally cook its own solar panels or knock a docking port out of alignment. It was a challenge that slowed the pace of modern space exploration.

Interestingly, this advancement switches the focus from raw computing power to AI that understands physics.

It uses the NVIDIA Physics NeMo framework to embed physical laws directly into the model’s architecture. Flexcompute created a system that understands the rules of nature rather than just analyzing data. The system provides the data required for high-stakes space robotics and control decisions.

“At Northrop Grumman, we’re pioneering physics AI to accelerate design and solve complex simulation and modeling problems like plume impingement—critical for station keeping, rendezvous, and space robotics. Simply put: we’re pushing the boundaries of advanced space operations,” said Fahad Khan, Director of AI Foundations, Northrop Grumman. 

“Partnering with Flexcompute and NVIDIA, we’re accelerating innovation and mission timelines to deliver superior space capabilities for customers at the speed they need,” Khan added.

Built-in trust

In space missions, speed is meaningless without precision. The existing AI systems might give an answer without explaining the certainty, but this system calculates its own confidence level for every prediction. This transparency ensures that engineers can fully trust the AI to guide real-time maneuvers and complex robotic tasks with absolute certainty.

And the benefits are many. Enhanced accuracy promotes sustainability by reducing fuel waste, while more precise modeling could enable the design of lighter spacecraft with tighter safety margins. Furthermore, this increased agility transforms mission planning, allowing projects that once took years to pivot in just weeks.

Through turning days of computation into seconds of insight via NVIDIA Physics NeMo, the partnership accelerates the journey from concept to orbit.