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Orbital Express: A New Chapter In Space

Orbital Express: A New Chapter In Space. Tracey M Espero The Boeing Company. Orbital Express Overview. Orbital Express (OE) Demonstration System is to demonstrate the operational utility, cost effectiveness, and technical feasibility of autonomous techniques for on-orbit satellite servicing

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Orbital Express: A New Chapter In Space

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  1. Orbital Express:A New Chapter In Space Tracey M Espero The Boeing Company

  2. Orbital Express Overview • Orbital Express (OE) Demonstration System is to demonstrate the operational utility, cost effectiveness, and technical feasibility of autonomous techniques for on-orbit satellite servicing • The specific objectives of OE are to develop and demonstrate on orbit: • An autonomous guidance, navigation, and control system • Autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture • Orbit fluid transfer between a depot/serviceable satellite and a servicing satellite • Component transfer and verified operation of the component • A nonproprietary satellite servicing interface specification http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/orbital_express_demosys_03.pdf

  3. OE Vehicles Introduction • ASTRO: Autonomous Space Transfer and Robotic Orbiter • Servicing satellite • NEXTSat/CSC: Next Generation Satellite/Commodity Spacecraft • Functions as the satellite being serviced by ASTRO and as a supply depot for ASTRO http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/orbital_express_demosys_03.pdf

  4. Orbital Express Vehicles ASTRO (Servicer) NEXTSat (Client) Capture (Docking) & Fluid Transfer Interfaces Robotic Arm 14 April 2006 1 Dec. 2005 http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/aw060506p1.xml

  5. Z Y X ASTRO Servicing Vehicle AC-3 ORU Battery ORU Container Container Battery FTAPS Fill and Drain Manipulator Arm GPS Antenna- #2 TDRSS Antenna- #2 CrossLink Antenna SGLS Antenna- #2 Boeing Spacecraft Separation Ring MDR Thrusters Starsys Fluid Coupler NGST Active Capture System BATC

  6. Sensor Targets Probe Fixture Assy Crosslink FTS Capture Mechanism Vis-Star Target Sep System I/F Ring ORU Interface Assy NEXTSat Client/Commodities Vehicle

  7. Major Mission Objectives • On-Orbit demonstration of technologies required to support autonomous on-orbit servicing of satellites • Perform autonomous fluid transfer • Transfer of propellant in a 0-g environment • Perform autonomous ORU transfer • Component replacement • Battery Transfer • Computer Transfer • Perform autonomous rendezvous and capture of a client satellite • Direct Capture • Free-Flyer Capture http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/orbital_express_demosys_03.pdf

  8. Mission Plan • Mission Duration: ~90 days • Certified Spacecraft Life: 1 year • Mission Phases: • Launch & Activation • Checkouts • Core bus subsystems • Servicing subsystems • Robotic Arm, Capture, Fluid Transfer • Advanced Technology Demonstrations • Execution of 8 Scenarios http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/orbital_express_demosys_03.pdf

  9. Mission Timeline

  10. OE 411 • OE • Orbit: 492-km circular 46-deg inclination • ASTRO • Dimensions: 69”x70”, span 220” • Power: 1560 watts • On-orbit fueled weight: ~2,400 lb • NEXTSat: • Dimensions: 38.7in long • Power: 500 watts • Mass: 500 lbs (224 kg) March 8, 2007 OE Launch from Cape Canaveral http://boeingmedia.com/imageDetail.cfm?id=14750 http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/aw060506p1.xml

  11. Autonomous Operations • Autonomous Mission Manager • Implements operations requirements by using sequences and related information in a database • Ability to plan missions dynamically • Command subsystems within the vehicle management system • Monitor systems and diagnose their failures • Database executed fully autonomously, but with high level of input from ground team into database creation • Controls starting, interruption, managing Authority-To-Proceeds, aborting of sequences; and enables human supervision of the sequences running autonomously • Executive Sequencer • Monitor • Contingency Responder • Resource Predictor/Ground Communicator • Autonomous mission controllers use man-machine collaborative autonomy, which allows systems to be implemented with variable levels of autonomy • Ground Segment • Assemble and verify sequences for upload • Displays status of Mission Manager and next planned event http://www.draper.com/technology/autosys/autonomous.htm http://www.draper.com/publications/explorations/summer.pdf

  12. Fluid Transfers • The Northrop Grumman-provided hardware demonstrates autonomous transfer of hydrazine propellant, a type of liquid rocket fuel, to and from the NextSat spacecraft, in addition to providing the propulsion needed for six-degree-of-freedom vehicle control. • Multiple types of fluid transfers are demonstrated • Total of 24 tests are planned • 6 at lowest level of autonomy • 5 at middle level of autonomy • 24 at highest level of autonomy • Demonstration plan sets a foundation for the operational system • Transfer from commodity station simulated • Transfer to client satellite simulated • Capability leads to the autonomous replenishment of fuel to existing satellites, allowing more flexibility and extension of life End-to-End Test http://media.primezone.com/noc/gallery/display?o=189&pkgid=1727&max=9&start=45 http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.mhtml?d=82422

  13. Orbital Express Demonstration Manipulator System • MDA developed the Orbital Express Autonomous Robotic Manipulator System comprising the following space and ground elements: • Small next generation Robotic arm on ASTRO with avionics and autonomous vision system • Grapple fixtures and vision target for Free-Flyer Capture and ORU transfer • Mating interface camera and lighting system • Standard, non-proprietary ORU containers and mating interfaces • Proximity-Ops lighting system • Autonomous Software • Robotic Ground Segment Manipulator Arm Specifics http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_7.html

  14. Orbital Express Demonstration Manipulator System Functions • Autonomous Free-Flyer Capture of Client Satellite • Robotic Arm on ASTRO will drive autonomously using highly-reliable vision feedback from a camera at its tip to capture NEXTSat • Autonomous Positioning of Client Satellite for Mating • Following capture, the Arm will position the client satellite at the mating interface between the spacecraft, allowing the ASTRO Capture System to close around NEXTSat • Autonomous Video Survey of Client Spacecraft • Robotic System will be used to perform a visual inspection of the spacecraft for spacecraft status and situational awareness • Sites for video inspection include deployment mechanisms, antennae, ORU mating interfaces, cameras, and solar arrays • Autonomous ORU Transfer • The standard ORU container may contain batteries, a new flight computer, science instruments, or any other replaceable component • OE Robotic System will demonstrate transfer of a battery and a replacement flight computer to and from the client satellite • Autonomy • OE has been designed to operate under four levels of supervised autonomy, and will demonstrate servicing operations under each increasingly challenging level http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_4.html

  15. ORU Transfers • ORU = Orbital Replacement Unit • ORU can be a science instrument, a subsystem component, or a heat shield; anything that is replaceable on-orbit • Standard interfaces for all ORUs • Boeing: ASTRO interface • Ball: NEXTSat interface • MDA: ORU interface • Transfer two types of components • Batteries often limit life of satellites • Computers become obsolete in a short time • Demonstration plan sets a foundation for the operational system • Total of 11 transfers planned • 1 at lowest autonomy, 2 at middle, and 8 at highest level of autonomy • Transfer from commodity station simulated • Transfer to client satellite simulated ORU http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/arcss_briefing_2006-02-04.pdf http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_3.html http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_4.html

  16. Unmated Operations • Autonomous Guidance, Navigation, & Control • Fully-autonomous guidance software performs demate, separation, departure, rendezvous, proximity operations, and capture • Fully-autonomous attitude software points vehicle in require directions during each segment of approach and separation • Onboard guidance sequencer progresses through translation and pointing modes during approach and separation • Functionally-redundant rendezvous sensors track target from over 200 km to capture • Fully-autonomous navigation filters sort and weight data from multiple sources • GN&C performs internal sanity checks and executes rendezvous abort if thresholds exceeded OE Rendezvous GN&C system is capable of autonomous rendezvous from 200 km to capture http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/orbital_express_demosys_06.pdf http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/argn_briefing_2006-01-25.pdf

  17. Unmated Operations • Autonomous Rendezvous & Capture Sensor Suite • Provides real-time, critical relative state information about the client satellite seamlessly across the entire mission scenario • Patented Vis-STAR tracking algorithm provides robust tracking from point source to capture • Algorithms are nearly sensor independent • Mission reliability is enhanced through redundant sensors which can operate across a broad range of viewing conditions (in various lighting conditions, with clear space and cluttered earth backgrounds) • NFOV and WFOV visible sensors covering ranges from zero meters to hundreds of kilometers • An infrared sensor for viewing even in complete darkness • An independent laser-based imaging tracker activates during final approach and capture operations http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/arcss_briefing_2006-02-04.pdf

  18. Free-Flyer Capture Robotic Arm on ASTRO will drive autonomously using highly-reliable vision feedback from a camera at its tip to capture NEXTSat Berthing requires the advanced robotic arm to grapple NEXTSat from a distance of 1.5 m and position it within the capture envelope http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/orbital_express_demosys_18.pdf http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_2.html http://sm.mdacorporation.com/what_we_do/oe_4.html

  19. Orbital Express Capture System • Subsystems support two critical functions • Shock-less separation of the two OE spacecraft after launch • Capture and mating of the spacecraft prior to servicing • Starsys designed and delivered the capture and mating system for the Orbital Express spacecraft • Capture and mating system extends from the servicing spacecraft and grasps the client spacecraft • Duration = 10 sec • Tolerance in satellite positioning is a 5.1-in.-long and 5.5-in.-dia. cylinder • Then retracts creating a structurally robust connection between the two craft that allows for fluid and electrical connections, and component replacement http://www.starsys.com/?id=22 http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/pdf/arcss_briefing_2006-02-04.pdf http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/aw060506p1.xml

  20. Current Mission Status • Launch & Early Activation checkouts complete • FTS Activation in prep for 1st fluid transfer • ARCSS checkouts • OEDMS deployed! • OEDMS Video Recording • Complete OEDMS Checkouts • Prep for first scenario next week http://www.boeing.com/ids/advanced_systems/orbital/updates.html

  21. Summary • Orbital Express is demonstrating the technologies required for on-orbit servicing • Currently orbiting test bed for potential servicing scenarios • Plenty of spacecraft life after baseline mission is complete • Potential VIP visit for FISO members to KAFB for a servicing scenario

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