DISTRIBUTED SATELLITE SYSTEMS ALGORITHM MATURATION WITH SPHERES ABOARD THE ISS

摘要

Since beginning operations aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2006, the Synchronized Position Hold Engage Re-orient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) facility has completed a total of twelve test session with over 150 tests. As a testing environment for distributed satellites systems, SPHERES research concentrates on the development of estimation, control, and autonomy algorithms for missions that include docking, formation flight, close proximity operations, and in-space assembly. By operating in the risk-tolerant environment created by the ISS, the SPHERES scientists can push the limits of the algorithms and attempt tests which would never be conducted as part of normal missions. During 2007 and early 2008 four SPHERES test sessions were conducted. The test sessions completed demonstrations of algorithms for docking using on-line path-planning, using high speed IMU data for closed loop △V control, performing different types of closed proximity operations for inspection missions, and conducting different scenarios for fractionated spacecraft.