US Patent 9876563 Virtualization-enabled satellite platforms

Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellite systems. In one example, a satellite system comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads, and a satellite control system configured to operate logistical control elements of the satellite system. The satellite system further comprises a virtualized execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads deployed on the satellite system as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the satellite system.