First Step To Automated Satellite Repair In Orbit
After a delay last month due to
questions regarding the Russian-made booster engine on its Atlas V
launch vehicle, on Thursday the Orbital Express demonstration
spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL.
The satellite is part of a Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) program aimed at demonstrating fully autonomous
on-orbit spacecraft servicing capabilities.
The three-month mission will demonstrate various functions of
the new system.
"Orbital Express is a revolutionary system that will offer
customers with appropriately configured on-orbit assets new options
to enhance the operation of their systems," said George Muellner,
president of Boeing Advanced Systems. "This demonstration mission
is the first step toward developing an operational system that can
service satellites and support other space operations. Orbital
Express continues our success in delivering solutions that shape
new markets through the integration of people, innovation and
technology."
Orbital Express consists of the Autonomous Space Transport
Robotic Operations (ASTRO) servicing spacecraft developed by Boeing
Advanced Network and Space Systems; and NextSat, a prototypical
modular next-generation serviceable client spacecraft developed by
Ball Aerospace.
The demonstration mission will validate capabilities critical
for the development of emerging and future space systems. When
operational, the new integrated rendezvous proximity operations and
capture system will provide satellite and spacecraft operators with
a routine on-orbit servicing capability for such things as fuel and
component transfer, relocation, inspection, safe de-orbit and
on-orbit assembly.
Major test objectives include:
- Autonomous operations, including rendezvous from 7 km with a
capability to support rendezvous at separation distances up to
1,000 km and beyond
- Onboard relative navigation and guidance systems
- Robotic arm system
- Multiple captures of the NextSat client spacecraft performed
directly and using the robotic arm
- Sub-meter range autonomous station-keeping
- Fluid and component transfer
- Passive, targetless rendezvous sensor systems
"Today's launch is a major milestone for the Orbital Express
program," said Alex Lopez, vice president, Boeing Advanced Network
and Space Systems. "Our team has worked very hard to prepare for
this important mission, and I congratulate them on their
accomplishment. We're looking forward to a successful demonstration
for our customer and moving forward with developing and deploying
the first operational system."
DARPA selected Boeing as the prime integrator for Phase II of
the Orbital Express Advanced Technology Demonstration program in
March 2002. Orbital Express team members include NASA, Ball
Aerospace, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, MacDonald, Dettwiler
and Associates Ltd., the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., and
Starsys Research.
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