No!

First of all let me clarify I cannot speak for NASA, I've been involved in several European mission and one Indian mission.

You have to draw a line between Ground Segment and Space Segment. This is a strict separation. In the Ground Segment you can basically use anything because it's not critical and processing power or available memory is hardly ever an issue. There is typically software to do operations, science planning, data processing etc. Perl can be used anywhere in the Ground Segment. So to answer your question, yes, but only in the Ground Segment, e.g. in Galileo, Venus Express, Mars Express Smart-1, Rosetta and Chandrayaan-1 missions. Some examples were I used Perl:

• processing RINEX date from Galileo receivers
• processing telemetry from payloads and satellites, e.g. health check
• preparing datasets for archiving
• integration of SW and scripts (Perl is exceptionally good for glueing things together!)

The Space segment is treated completely different. We use the ECSS standards, onboard SW would typically be "Category A" meaning it could have "catastrophic consequences" like losing the mission. Perl is not used for that. This however is not the major reason for not using Perl. All hardware used in space has to be "space certified", this also implies constraints for the SW. The available memory and processing power is very limited compared to the HW on earth. So most often (if not always) the SW is typically written in C and/or assembler. A minimal footprint, maximum performance and last but not least reuse are the main drivers. So to get back to your post: no, Perl would not be used * in * space.

A sounding rocket doesn't "sound" like a critical mission to me:P How do you define critical? You would have to explain what you mean with synchronizing and controlling major instrument functions. I could see myself preparing a command file with Perl to command a payload onboard a spacecraft (e.g. switch-on, heat-up, calibrate, take image/spectrum, cool-down, switch-off). I would send the file to the Mission Operation Centre and they have the last word. For verifying the file, sending it to the spacecraft and handling it onboard Perl would not be used.

Cheers

Harry

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