Getting Started with Astro
The Astro design system brings together UX guidelines, HTML/CSS framework, and web components to design and develop a modern, consistent user experience. Astro was commissioned by the United States Space Force and Missile System Center (SMC) for designing Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) and Satellite Operations (SATOPS) web applications.
Astro’s designs are based on user-centered research into the functions and capabilities required for applications used in space operations. This approach involves SMC and commercial space systems operators in all phases of research and design validation. Their direct participation ensures that applications developed with these guidelines will meet user needs. To learn about incorporating a user-centered approach in your application designs, leverage guidance provided in Astro’s Research section. Astro is a living design system for government and commercial space-based applications, created and stewarded by Rocket Communications Inc., for the United States Space Force and Missile System Center (SMC). For questions, contact Rocket at: UXsupport@rocketcom.com.
The Design Process
A foundation of user-centered design and industry best practices provide designers and developers with tools and knowledge to build applications that create meaningful connections with end-users.
Learn more about the software design process with Astro:
- Base application design on a solid foundation of Research
- Learn to provide a successful, effective user experience through UI Design
- Create applications with a mature, established Visual Design
- Follow established EGS Compliance Guidance required for EGS applications
Design Assets
Astro UXDS design assets include files for creating Astro application wireframes and high-fidelity mockups in Figma. Visit the Astro UXDS Figma community page.
Learn more about designing with Astro design assets with Astro’s guide to getting started For Designers.
Development Assets Astro includes standard HTML and CSS sample code as a starting point for development. Astro’s UI Components are provided as Web Components, a platform-neutral technology.
Learn more about designing with Astro development assets, and why the Astro team chose to build web components with our guide to getting started For Developers.
Support
Supported browsers
Astro is tested & supported in major ‘evergreen’ web browsers (the latest browser version from each vendor -1). Please submit an issue for problems with the browsers listed below. Mobile browsers are not yet fully supported in Astro.
| Chrome | Firefox | Edge | Safari | Chrome (Android) | Safari (iOS) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | unsupported | unsupported |
Versioning
Current version: 7.0
Astro Licensing
Astro is provided as an open-source tool under the Astro Space UX Design System Interim License Agreement:
When implementing Astro Space UX Design System users should consult with their organization’s IT/Security departments and adapt these patterns to suit the needs of their organization’s best practices and security requirements.
Copyright © 2022 Rocket Communications, Inc.
The Astro Space UX Design System, which includes user workflows, interfaces, visual components, system functionality, sample code, style guides, best practices guidelines, sample applications, and related sample software, all of which is publicly available at www.astroUXDS.com (collectively referred to herein as the “Software”), is developed and maintained by Rocket Communications, Inc. (“Rocket”) through a contract with the United States government.
As a work commissioned by the United States government, the Software is in the public domain within the United States.
A non-exclusive, worldwide, a royalty-free license is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person (referred to herein as “Recipient”) obtaining a copy of the Software, or any part thereof, and any associated documentation files, to use the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: (i) any copy of the Software, or part thereof, distributed by Recipient must include the copyright notice noted above, and (ii) Recipient agrees to the following warranty and waiver conditions:
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTY THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL CONFORM TO SPECIFICATIONS, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT, ANY WARRANTY THAT THE SOFTWARE WILL BE ERROR-FREE, OR ANY WARRANTY THAT DOCUMENTATION, IF PROVIDED, WILL CONFORM TO THE SOFTWARE. THIS AGREEMENT DOES NOT, IN ANY MANNER, CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OR ANY OF ITS CONTRACTORS OF ANY RESULTS, RESULTING DESIGNS, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, OR ANY OTHER APPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM USE OF THE SOFTWARE. FURTHER, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND ITS CONTRACTORS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND LIABILITIES REGARDING THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE, IF PRESENT, IN THE SOFTWARE, AND DISTRIBUTE IT “AS IS.”
RECIPIENT AGREES TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, ITS CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS, AS WELL AS ANY PRIOR RECIPIENT. IF RECIPIENT’S USE OF THE SOFTWARE RESULTS IN ANY LIABILITIES, DEMANDS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES OR LOSSES ARISING FROM SUCH USE, INCLUDING ANY DAMAGES FROM PRODUCTS BASED ON, OR RESULTING FROM, RECIPIENT’S USE OF THE SOFTWARE, RECIPIENT SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, ITS CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS, AS WELL AS ANY PRIOR RECIPIENT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. RECIPIENT’S SOLE REMEDY FOR ANY SUCH MATTER SHALL BE THE IMMEDIATE, UNILATERAL TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
Offline access
This website and its contents are provided as separate downloadable files for the convenience of developers and designers working in closed environments. Designer and Developer assets are provided as downloads on their respective ‘Getting Started’ sections: