AXbit v0.1.0 — Initial Release

AXbit is an experimental visual astrodynamics lab for propagating small-body trajectories, and visualizing close-approach scenarios using NASA/JPL SPICE and SBDB data.

What AXbit currently supports

• Small-body trajectory propagation and close-approach analysis.
• SPICE-based planetary ephemerides and reference data.
• Integration with the JPL Small-Body Database.
• Interactive 3D visualization of trajectories and Solar System geometry.
• Shader-based rendering built with Rust, wgpu, egui, and winit.
• In-app and manual SPICE kernel management (with custom manifest support).

Download

A packaged .app.zip build is available in the release assets.

The current binary targets macOS on Apple Silicon. Windows, Linux, and Intel macOS have not yet been tested. However there should be no problems in future cross-platform capability.

SPICE kernels are not bundled with the application. They can be downloaded from within AXbit or configured manually using the [Kernels Guide].

Project status

AXbit is an early-stage project. Currently, just a prototype. Not many features. Not many validated results.

Some numerical models, reference-frame handling, validation coverage, UI workflows, and visual elements remain incomplete or experimental. See [Accuracy and Limitations] for details.

Looking for contributors and potential co-maintainers

There is substantial room to shape the project. Contributions would be particularly useful in:

• Numerical-method validation and additional force models.
• wgpu rendering and visualization.
• Cross-platform support.
• Kernel and SBDB data management.
• Documentation.
• Really useful analytics and research systems.

See the [contribution guide] and [open issues].