Robotic Flight Demo Operations

MDA's Robotic System will perform several key functions during the OE mission. These operations are instrumental in providing a robust capability for satellite servicing and setting the standard for future servicing missions.

Autonomous Free-Flyer Capture of Client Satellite

As the servicer satellite (ASTRO) approaches the client satellite (NEXTSat), the Robotic Arm on ASTRO will drive autonomously, using highly-reliable vision feedback from a camera at its tip, to capture NEXTSat. The arm is capable of safely capturing the client satellite even under large relative drift rates and initial offsets.

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, rigidly connecting the spacecraft for servicing operations.

Autonomous Video Survey of Client Spacecraft

Following rigid mating, the Robotic System will be used to perform a visual inspection of the spacecraft, ensuring adequate situational awareness for upcoming robotic operations. In the planning phase, sites for inspection include deployment mechanisms, antennae, ORU mating interfaces, cameras, and solar arrays.

Autonomous ORU Transfer

The actual servicing begins when fuel is transferred to the client, and when damaged or upgraded components are replaced on the client spacecraft. The standard ORU container may contain batteries, a new flight computer, science instruments, or any other replaceable component. During the OE mission, the OE Robotic System will demonstrate transfer of a battery and a replacement flight computer to and from the client satellite.

Autonomy

The OE mission operations are designed to be representative of typical operations envisioned in future satellite servicing missions. Such missions have to be conducted reliably, cost-effectively and employ high levels of autonomy. OE has been designed to operate under four levels of supervised autonomy, and will demonstrate servicing operations under each increasingly challenging level, ultimately demonstrating fully autonomous satellite servicing.