The bottom line
This is our guide to requesting a license for JPL's Monte. Below you'll find details, but the bottom line (and good news) is that Monte is affordable for most teams and relatively easy to get. To start the ball rolling, fill out and submit a license request form, and someone from Caltech will get in touch with you about next steps. Also, send a short email to the Monte team and let them know you are requesting Monte. That's it!
Monte license guide
Request a Monte License
The first step in requesting a Monte license is going to the JPL Software Download Service website. The request process is straightforward, but below are some helpful notes.
- After clicking the above link, select the "Request Software" button
- Read the disclaimer and click "Continue"
- Fill out the required fields on the following 3-page form and submit
When filling out the form, if you are unsure of what to write, simply do your
best. You will have a chance to discuss any ambiguities with a real person later
in the process.
After submitting the form, send an email to the Monte team at
mdn_software(AT)jpl.nasa.gov and let them
know you've made the request. They will actually be putting together and sending out your Monte
Installation Bundle, and getting in touch upfront will help expedite the whole process.
What is included in the Monte Installation Bundle?
After your license request is approved, the Monte team will send you a package of files
that we are calling the "Monte Installation Bundle". Instructions are
included for installing this bundle on Linux Redhat / CentOS using the Conda
Python package manager. Once installed, you have access to all of Monte's Python
libraries, pre-built mission design and navigation applications and CLI's,
Monte's default data bundle, and more.
All of the Astroceanic Monte training courses come
with instructions and support for installing the Monte Installation Bundle on Windows, macOS, or Linux
(any distribution) using Docker.
What is the difference between Monte Editions?
Monte comes in two editions. The Project Edition (PE) and
Design Edition (DE) are nearly identical, with one critical
difference - the Design Edition cannot process real tracking
data, and therefore can't be used in flight operations. This
translates into two further practical differences, (1) DE is less
expensive to license, and (2) it carries a less restrictive
US Export Control rating (DE's EAR99 vs. PE's ITAR).
It is common for teams to start with the Design Edition while
their mission is still in development. Then in preparation for
launch, they "upgrade" to the Project Edition, which unlocks
the ability to process tracking data, and they are ready for
operations (it's really that simple).
How much does Monte cost?
Caltech doesn't have a public price sheet for Monte, but below are some pricing estimates depending on the Monte edition and expected number of users.
- Monte Design Edition (EAR99) for small team ($5,000 - $15,000 per year)
- Monte Project Edition (ITAR) for small team ($50,000 - $100,000 per year)
Note these are only ball park figures, and actual pricing is set by Caltech during the licensing process.
Who owns Monte?
Monte was created and is actively maintained by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). JPL itself is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), meaning that it receives the majority of its funds directly from NASA, but is actually owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in nearby Pasadena. Likewise, Monte is owned by, and therefore needs to be licensed from, Caltech.
