RendezVous Sensor for Automatic Guidance of Transfer Vehicles to ISS Concept of the Operational Modes Depending on Actual Optical and Geometrical-Dynamical Conditions

摘要

Based on an ATV RendezVous Predevelopment Program initiated by ESTEC, an automatically operating Rendez Vous Sensor (RVS) ahs been develoepd. The sensor - a Scanning Tele-Goniometer - shall guide docking and retreat of the European Automatic Transfer Vehicle (ATV) as well as berthing and retreat of the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV). The sensor perofrmance will be strongly connected with the properties of cooperative targets, consisting of an arrangement of retro reflectors mounted on ISS each.