pykep
pykep is a scientific library providing basic tools for astrodynamics research.
ESA’s high-performance C++/Python astrodynamics library for Lambert problems, propagation, low-thrust optimization, and space-environment data.
About the Project
Why use this?
pykep is ESA’s scientific astrodynamics library, written in C++ and exposed to Python for performance and usability. It includes an efficient multiple-revolution Lambert solver, Keplerian propagators, Taylor integrators, an SGP4 propagator, TLE and SATCAT support, and direct, indirect, and hybrid formulations for low-thrust trajectory optimization.
Aerospace engineers choose pykep when they need computationally efficient astrodynamics research tools, especially for many-revolution Lambert problems, low-thrust trajectory design, and large-scale search or optimization. Its C++ core makes it well suited to performance-critical applications, while its Python interface keeps it accessible for research workflows. [234][237]
Key Features
- Efficient multiple-revolution Lambert problem solver
- Keplerian propagators, Taylor integrators, and SGP4 propagation
- TLE and SATCAT support
- Direct, indirect, and hybrid low-thrust optimization formulations
- High-performance C++ core exposed through Python
- Reference / Repo
- https://github.com/esa/pykep
- Tool / Hosted
- https://www.esa.int/gsp/ACT/open_source/pykep/
- Replaces / Alternative to
- MATLAB Aerospace Toolbox, proprietary trajectory-optimization libraries
- Free layer
- open-source