Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying software payloads to satellite devices, such as when a satellite device is in orbit. In one example, a satellite device includes a communication interface configured to receive one or more software payloads, and a storage system configured to store the one or more software payloads on the satellite device. The satellite device also includes a payload execution system configured to execute the one or more software payloads as one or more virtual nodes.