SYSTEM PREREQUISITES AND OPERATIONAL MODES FOR ON ORBIT SERVICING

摘要

The increasing number of launched satellites per yearcalls for solutions to keep free operational space fortelecommunication systems in GEO, as well as to avoidthe endangering of space systems in LEO and of the publicliving on Earth. Malfunctions of satellite sub-systemslike solar generators, control systems, or thrusters cannotbe avoided. Therefore, on-orbit servicing (OOS) will be amandatory and challenging topic for space robotics in thenear future. The outcome of national German projectslike ROTEX, ESS and GETEX/ETS-VII represent aknow-how which can be directly applied for the developmentof OOS robotics systems. The recently started nationalproject ROKVISS already provides the necessaryspace-qualified hardware as well as the very powerfultele-presence operational mode. The space robotics missionTECSAS (Technology Satellite for Demonstrationand Verification of Space Systems), is a very good opportunityto demonstrate and verify satellite capturingstrategies.The first business case for on-orbit servicing will hopefullybecome reality within the next few years. OrbitalRecovery Ltd. has initiated its Spacecraft Life ExtensionSystem (SLES .). SLES will operate as an orbital tugboat,supplying the propulsion, navigation and guidance tokeep a telecommunications satellite in its dedicated orbitalslot for several additional years.