Download or read book Guidance Control and Docking for CubeSat based Active Debris Removal written by Mohamed Khalil Ben-Larbi and published by Cuvillier Verlag. This book was released on 2023-08-07 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While a paradigm shift in space industry has already started involving “mass production” of higher standardized, large distributed systems such as constellations, there are no effective solutions existing for the “mass removal” of satellites. Many indicators point to a further increase in the space traffic in Earth orbit in the near future, which could imply new dynamics in the evolution of the space debris environment. Even in case of diligent compliance with the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) mitigation guidelines, the growth in space traffic complicates its management and drastically increases the probability of accidents and system failures. NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler proposed a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade that renders space unusable for many generations. Therefore, a reliable and affordable capability of removing or servicing non-functional objects is essential to guarantee sustainable access to Earth orbit. Recently, the CubeSat design standard introduced a new class of cost-efficient small spacecraft and thereby offers a potential solution to the active debris removal (ADR) problem. The development of a novel “CubeSat-compatible” ADR technology has significant advantages such as the use of commercial off-the-shelf parts, reduced launch cost, and reduced design efforts. This thesis presents –in the frame of an ADR mission– an approach to advanced rendezvous and docking with non-cooperative targets via CubeSat. It covers the design process of simulation systems used for verification purposes, the ideation and implementation of novel guidance, control, and docking techniques, as well as their verification and evaluation. The outcome of this research is a series of validated software tools, processes, technical devices, and algorithms for automated approach and docking, that have been tested in simulation and with prototype hardware.

Download or read book Space Safety is No Accident written by Tommaso Sgobba and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-06-04 with total page 610 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Includes the proceedings from the 7th IAASS Conference, "Space Safety is No Accident," held in Friedrichshafen, Germany, in October 2014. The 7th IAASS Conference, “Space Safety is No Accident” is an invitation to reflect and exchange information on a number of topics in space safety and sustainability of national and international interest. The conference is also a forum to promote mutual understanding, trust and the widest possible international cooperation in such matters. The once exclusive “club” of nations with autonomous sub-orbital and orbital space access capabilities is becoming crowded with fresh and ambitious new entrants. New commercial spaceports are starting operations and others are being built. In the manned spaceflight arena a commercial market is becoming a tangible reality with suborbital spaceflights and government use of commercial services for cargo and crew transportation to orbit. Besides the national ambitions in space, the international cooperation both civil and commercial is also gaining momentum. In the meantime robotic space exploration will accelerate and with it the need to internationally better regulate the usage of nuclear power sources. Space-bound systems and aviation traffic will share more and more a crowded airspace, while aviation will increasingly rely on space-based safety-critical services. Finally, most nations own nowadays space assets, mainly satellites of various kinds and purposes, which are under the constant threat of collision with other spacecraft and with the ever increasing number of space debris. Awareness is increasing internationally (as solemnly declared since decades in space treaties) that space is a mankind asset and that we all have the duty of caring for it. Without proactive and courageous international initiatives to organize space, we risk to negate access and use of space to future generations.

Download or read book Guidance and Control for Multi stage Rendezvous and Docking Operations in the Presence of Uncertainty written by Christopher Michael Jewison and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rendezvous and docking missions have been a mainstay of space exploration from the Apollo program through present day operations with the International Space Station. There remains a growing interest in several mission types that not only rely on rendezvous and docking, but also rely on maneuvering spacecraft once docked. For example, there is active interest in orbital debris removal, on-orbit assembly, on-orbit refueling, and on-orbit servicing and repair missions. As these missions become more and more popular, the number of rendezvous and docking class operations will increase dramatically. Current methods focus on performing rendezvous and docking to very well-known targets and in very well-known conditions. Inherent to these new mission types, however, is an increasing element of uncertainty to which new guidance and control architectures will need to be robust. As guidance and control techniques become more robust, a corresponding tradeoff in performance can typically be experienced. This thesis attempts to address the uncertainties in rendezvous and docking operations while maintaining a probabilistically optimal level of performance. There are two main focuses in the thesis: spacecraft trajectory optimization and reference-tracking controller selection. With respect to trajectory optimization, the goal is to nd probabilistically optimal trajectories given large uncertainties in mission critical parameters, such as knowledge of an obstacle's position, while knowing that the trajectory is able to be replanned onboard the spacecraft when higher precision information is obtained. This baseline optimal trajectory and subsequently replanned trajectories are then followed by an optimally determined set of reference-tracking controllers. These controllers are selected and scheduled throughout the phases of the mission based on the probabilistically expected performance in the presence of noise and uncertain parameters. This process is explored through its implementation on a generic problem setup for rendezvous, docking, and joint maneuvering. Results specfic to this problem and associated analysis motivate the use of probabilistic planning in future space missions. Specically, the thesis shows that fuel and tracking performance can be improved if multi-stage missions are planned continuously through phase transitions and without the use of waypoints. Furthermore, under the presence of large uncertainties, the techniques in this thesis produce better expected fuel and tracking performance than traditional trajectory planning and controller selection methods.

Download or read book Next Generation CubeSats and SmallSats written by Francesco Branz and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2023-08-24 with total page 838 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Next Generation of CubeSats and SmallSats: Enabling Technologies, Missions, and Markets provides a comprehensive understanding of the small and medium sized satellite approach and its potentialities and limitations. The book analyzes promising applications (e.g., constellations and distributed systems, small science platforms that overachieve relative to their development time and cost) as paradigm-shifting solutions for space exploitation, with an analysis of market statistics and trends and a prediction of where the technologies, and consequently, the field is heading in the next decade. The book also provides a thorough analysis of CubeSat potentialities and applications, and addresses unique technical approaches and systems strategies. Throughout key sections (introduction and background, technology details, systems, applications, and future prospects), the book provides basic design tools scaled to the small satellite problem, assesses the technological state-of-the-art, and describes the most recent advancements with a look to the near future. This new book is for aerospace engineering professionals, advanced students, and designers seeking a broad view of the CubeSat world with a brief historical background, strategies, applications, mission scenarios, new challenges and upcoming advances. Presents a comprehensive and systematic view of the technologies and space missions related to nanosats and smallsats Discusses next generation technologies, up-coming advancements and future perspectives Features the most relevant CubeSat launch initiatives from NASA, ESA, and from developing countries, along with an overview of the New Space CubeSat market

Download or read book Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft written by Wigbert Fehse and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2003-11-13 with total page 517 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The definitive reference for space engineers on rendezvous and docking/berthing (RVD/B) related issues, this book answers key questions such as: How does the docking vehicle accurately approach the target spacecraft? What technology is needed aboard the spacecraft to perform automatic rendezvous and docking, and what systems are required by ground control to supervise this process? How can the proper functioning of all rendezvous-related equipment, systems and operations be verified before launch? The book provides an overview of the major issues governing approach and mating strategies, and system concepts for rendezvous and docking/berthing. These issues are described and explained such that aerospace engineers, students and even newcomers to the field can acquire a basic understanding of RVD/B. The author would like to extend his thanks to Dr Shufan Wu, GNC specialist and translator of the book's Chinese edition, for his help in the compilation of these important errata.

Download or read book Guidance and Control of a Spacecraft to Rendevous and Dock with a Non cooperative Target written by Anantha Sayanam Komanduri and published by Cuvillier Verlag. This book was released on 2011-11-22 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Non-cooperative spacecrafts are those current or future assets in orbit which have lost their control authority in one or more degrees of freedom and cannot convey any information concerning their position, attitude or rates to facilitate Rendezvous and Docking/Berthing (RVD/B) process. A growing field of study in space research is to develop On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) technology capable of dealing with these space- crafts, called targets, which are designed without any intention to be serviced. To render services such as repair, refuel or removal of the target from orbit, the chaser spacecraft should exhibit sophisticated RVD/B technology for formation fly and final stage docking/berthing operations of the mission. Assuming that the terminal capture operations of the target are to be performed by a suitable manipulator system on-board chaser, this study relies upon proven technology and outlines guidance and control methodologies to achieve rendezvous during proximity phases. The entry gate of chaser after phasing can be defined at a distance of about 5 km in ± V-bar direction from the target in its orbit. To account for errors in modeling, navigation or actuation, proximity range operations from the entry gate are decomposed into three different subphases as far range, inspection or fly around and closer approach. From the entry gate and along the path of the chaser two hold points are defined: first to initiate an inspection and the second, which is close to the safe zone defined around the target, to initiate a capture. The chaser is assumed to perform a station keeping maneuver at the second hold point until initial conditions for the capture are met. Possible scenarios pertaining to the behavior of the target in a circular orbit are considered and guidance schemes for different subphases are presented using a combination of Hill-Clohessy-Willtshire (HCW) solution, elliptical fly around, glides- lope algorithm etc. Relative controllers both for position and attitude of the chaser are also presented. A Linear Quadratic (LQ) controller for relative position and a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller for relative attitude with angular velocity constraints are chosen to track down the error to achieve rendezvous and attitude synchronization with the non-cooperative target. A comparative analysis between different guidance trajectories for important parameters such as time, fuel usage, minimum absolute distance and the maximum radial distance from the target is presented. Verification of the proposed guidance and control methods is done by applying them to two different case studies: the first study incorporating a stabilized target in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and the second, with a spinning target in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The methods presented here are general and provide a simulator to the chaser to perform rendezvous analysis with non-cooperative targets. To achieve RVD/B, the study proposes a careful combination of guidance solutions for different phases of proximity operations, and for different scenario’s of the target encountered by the chaser.

Download or read book Handbook of Small Satellites written by Joseph N. Pelton and published by Springer. This book was released on 2020-09-13 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the past decade, the field of small satellites has expanded the space industry in a powerful way. Hundreds, indeed thousands, of these innovative and highly cost-efficient satellites are now being launched from Earth to establish low-cost space systems. These smallsats are engaged in experiments and prototype testing, communications services, data relay, internet access, remote sensing, defense and security related services, and more. Some of these systems are quite small and are simple student experiments, while others in commercial constellations are employing state-of-the-art technologies to deliver fast and accurate services. This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of this exciting new field. It covers the technology, applications and services, design and manufacture, launch arrangements, ground systems, and economic and regulatory arrangements surrounding small satellites. The diversity of approach in recent years has allowed for rapid innovation and economic breakthroughs to proceed at a pace that seems only to be speeding up. In this reference work, readers will find information pertaining to all aspects of the small satellite industry, written by a host of international experts in the field.

Download or read book Real time Quasi analytical Trajectory Generation for Docking with Tumbling Objects written by Alejandro D. Cabrales Hernandez and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The capability to rendezvous and dock with tumbling objects has become prominent with increased interest in active debris removal, satellite servicing, and in-space assembly. Guidance and control algorithms have been developed in the literature to allow for a spacecraft to capture an uncooperative and tumbling object under several constraints such as collision avoidance, speed bounds, and thruster saturation. However, current algorithms for this capability do not address plume impingement due to thrusters, which can lead to damage to the target object, and can require the use of nonlinear solvers that neither guarantee convergence of a solution nor be deployed in real-time using current computational capabilities of spacecraft. This thesis presents a quasi-analytical guidance algorithm that allows for a spacecraft to soft-dock with a target, avoids plume impingement, and allows for real-time generation of trajectories with low computational expense. Several test cases compare the solution from this algorithm against a solution using pseudospectral methods and show similar performance at less than 0.1% computational cost, and an example scenario for docking with the the European Space Agency’s ENVISAT is presented. Additionally, a discrete transport trajectory optimizer is presented for use as a first cut solution to transporting several components to the same halo orbit for in-space assembly.

Download or read book Fundamentals of Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control written by F. Landis Markley and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-05-31 with total page 486 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores topics that are central to the field of spacecraft attitude determination and control. The authors provide rigorous theoretical derivations of significant algorithms accompanied by a generous amount of qualitative discussions of the subject matter. The book documents the development of the important concepts and methods in a manner accessible to practicing engineers, graduate-level engineering students and applied mathematicians. It includes detailed examples from actual mission designs to help ease the transition from theory to practice and also provides prototype algorithms that are readily available on the author’s website. Subject matter includes both theoretical derivations and practical implementation of spacecraft attitude determination and control systems. It provides detailed derivations for attitude kinematics and dynamics and provides detailed description of the most widely used attitude parameterization, the quaternion. This title also provides a thorough treatise of attitude dynamics including Jacobian elliptical functions. It is the first known book to provide detailed derivations and explanations of state attitude determination and gives readers real-world examples from actual working spacecraft missions. The subject matter is chosen to fill the void of existing textbooks and treatises, especially in state and dynamics attitude determination. MATLAB code of all examples will be provided through an external website.

Download or read book Optimal Estimation of Dynamic Systems written by John L. Crassidis and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2004-04-27 with total page 606 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most newcomers to the field of linear stochastic estimation go through a difficult process in understanding and applying the theory.This book minimizes the process while introducing the fundamentals of optimal estimation. Optimal Estimation of Dynamic Systems explores topics that are important in the field of control where the signals received are used to determine highly sensitive processes such as the flight path of a plane, the orbit of a space vehicle, or the control of a machine. The authors use dynamic models from mechanical and aerospace engineering to provide immediate results of estimation concepts with a minimal reliance on mathematical skills. The book documents the development of the central concepts and methods of optimal estimation theory in a manner accessible to engineering students, applied mathematicians, and practicing engineers. It includes rigorous theoretial derivations and a significant amount of qualitiative discussion and judgements. It also presents prototype algorithms, giving detail and discussion to stimulate development of efficient computer programs and intelligent use of them. This book illustrates the application of optimal estimation methods to problems with varying degrees of analytical and numercial difficulty. It compares various approaches to help develop a feel for the absolute and relative utility of different methods, and provides many applications in the fields of aerospace, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

Download or read book Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students written by Howard D Curtis and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2009-10-26 with total page 744 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Orbital Mechanics for Engineering Students, Second Edition, provides an introduction to the basic concepts of space mechanics. These include vector kinematics in three dimensions; Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation; relative motion; the vector-based solution of the classical two-body problem; derivation of Kepler’s equations; orbits in three dimensions; preliminary orbit determination; and orbital maneuvers. The book also covers relative motion and the two-impulse rendezvous problem; interplanetary mission design using patched conics; rigid-body dynamics used to characterize the attitude of a space vehicle; satellite attitude dynamics; and the characteristics and design of multi-stage launch vehicles. Each chapter begins with an outline of key concepts and concludes with problems that are based on the material covered. This text is written for undergraduates who are studying orbital mechanics for the first time and have completed courses in physics, dynamics, and mathematics, including differential equations and applied linear algebra. Graduate students, researchers, and experienced practitioners will also find useful review materials in the book. NEW: Reorganized and improved discusions of coordinate systems, new discussion on perturbations and quarternions NEW: Increased coverage of attitude dynamics, including new Matlab algorithms and examples in chapter 10 New examples and homework problems

Download or read book Optimal Docking to Tumbling Objects with Uncertain Properties written by David Charles Sternberg (Ph. D.) and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Active debris removal (ADR), on-orbit servicing and in-space assembly likely require proximity operations and soft docking between two or more satellites. These operations can be complicated by the presence of several challenges, including 1) flexible dynamics, 2) impending collision with other proximity objects, 3) uncooperative satellites, 4) tumbling behavior, 5) uncertainty in the knowledge of this tumble, and 6) the need to maneuver at least one of the satellites through an accelerated approach trajectory. This thesis considers challenges 3 through 6 by addressing the terminal approach and soft docking by a Chaser satellite to a passively tumbling, rigid-body Target. The terminal approach is characterized by the Chaser starting at an initial position several meters away from the Target and aligned with the Target’s docking port. It then initializes its inward motion relative to the Target to maintain its position synchronous (i.e., maintaining alignment with the body-fixed frame of the Target’s docking port) with the tumbling motion. Using a fuel-efficient trajectory, it traverses along the docking port’s body-fixed approach axis by creating the requisite tangential and radial accelerations associated with the Target’s tumble. Finally, the Chaser docks with a sufficiently low impact velocity to avoid damage to itself or the Target. This thesis addresses three important aspects of this Synchronous Docking to a Tumbling Target (SDTT) problem, with examples drawn from this ADR mission scenario. First, a methodology is developed to define whether a Chaser can feasibly execute this terminal approach to a Target when that Target’s tumbling motion is measured a priori with some known degree of uncertainty. Given the potential urgency in deriving the approach trajectory, a robust and computationally efficient minimum fuel trajectory solver is formulated. This solver is based upon the recognition that fuel optimality requires that the tangential and radial accelerations of the Chaser be equal as it traverses the terminal approach. Since these accelerations are dictated by the Target’s uncertain tumbling motion, a Multiple Model optimization technique is used to provide robustness in the trajectory. The result is a methodology that can assess the feasibility of achieving a soft dock of a known Chaser with a Target whose motion is uncertain. Second, this feasibility framework can be used to analyze two Chaser scenarios. The first entails the design of a new Chaser that can capture a broad sub-set of the Target population (Market Capture), while the second entails the determination of the fraction of a Target population, with uncertain dynamics, to which an existing Chaser can feasibly soft dock (Market Analysis). Both scenarios consider levels of uncertainty in the knowledge of the motion of individual Targets in the population that is inherently associated with remote sensing. Third, 0-g simulations are required to obtain predictions of Chaser performance, since this SDTT problem leads to Chasers that conduct multi-axis accelerations uncharacteristic of conventional satellites. A simulation framework that supports both unconstrained 0-g and constrained 1-g performance prediction to flight is developed. The development and validation of key dynamics and environmental factors for both environments are presented. As a result, this research provides a computationally efficient, low-order solver for rapidly deriving a terminal approach trajectory that is both fuel optimal as well as robust to uncertainty in the measurement of the Target’s dynamics. Furthermore, a methodology is provided that permits evaluation of the design of a Chaser that can feasibly dock with a desired fraction of the Target population before committing to the cost and effort of developing that Chaser (Market Capture) as well as those Targets to which an existing Chaser can feasibly dock before committing to the time and fuel consumption needed to rendezvous with those Targets (Market Analysis). Finally, a ground test methodology for Chasers that must execute multi-axis accelerated trajectories is presented to minimize the impact of Chaser 0-g modeling errors on the performance of SDTT operations.

Download or read book New Solutions for the Space Debris Problem written by Joseph N. Pelton and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-05-06 with total page 102 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Addressing a pressing issue in space policy, Pelton explores the new forms of technology that are being developed to actively remove the defunct space objects from orbit and analyzes their implications in the existing regime of international space law and public international law. This authoritative review covers the due diligence guidelines that nations are using to minimize the generation of new debris, mandates to de-orbit satellites at end of life, and innovative endeavours to remove non-functional satellites, upper stage rockets and other large debris from orbit under new institutional, financial and regulatory guidelines. Commercial space services currently exceed 100 billion USD business per annum, but the alarming proliferation in the population of orbital debris in low, medium and geosynchronous satellite orbits poses a serious threat to all kinds of space assets and applications. There is a graver concern that the existing space debris will begin to collide in a cascading manner, generating further debris, which is known as the Kessler Syndrome. Scientific analysis has indicated an urgent need to perform space debris remediation through active removal of debris and on-orbit satellite servicing.

Download or read book Analytical Mechanics of Space Systems written by Hanspeter Schaub and published by AIAA. This book was released on 2003 with total page 744 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Observation of the Earth and its Environment written by Herbert J. Kramer and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 601 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The following listing represents a survey and a short description of 'Earth Observing Mis sions' in alphabetical order. The listing in Part A considers completed-, operational-as well as planned missions on an international scale (Earth observations from space know no na tional boundaries). A look into past activities is important for reasons of heritage, context and of perspective. The document is intended for all who want to keep track of missions and sensors in the fast -growing field of Earth observations. There cannot be any claim to com pleteness, although a considerable effort was made to collect and integrate all known mis sions and sensors into this book. Earth observation by remote sensing changes our view and perception of the world. We be gin to realize the global character of remote sensing, its multidimensional and complemen tary nature, its vast potential to many disciplines, its importance to mankind as a whole. Re mote sensing permits for the first time in history a total system view of the Earth. The view from space toward Earth has brought about sweeping revisions in the Earth sciences, in par ticular in such fields as meteorology, oceanology, hydrology, geology, geography, forestry, agriculture, geodynamics, solar-terrestrial interactions, and many others.

Download or read book A Feasibility Study of CubeSat Architectures for Space Debris Removal from Low Earth Orbit written by Christopher P. Clark and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Results suggest that CubeSats are capable of capturing and deorbiting certain families of debris objects defined by mass and altitude, particularly objects with negligible rotational properties. Feasible CubeSat designs are discovered for all three of the deorbit methods. It is concluded that CubeSat-based debris removal is an area deserving of further exploration, as it could represent a uniquely cost-effective method for removing dangerous debris from low-earth orbit.

Download or read book Spacecraft Formation Flying written by Kyle Alfriend and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2009-11-16 with total page 403 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Space agencies are now realizing that much of what has previously been achieved using hugely complex and costly single platform projects—large unmanned and manned satellites (including the present International Space Station)—can be replaced by a number of smaller satellites networked together. The key challenge of this approach, namely ensuring the proper formation flying of multiple craft, is the topic of this second volume in Elsevier’s Astrodynamics Series, Spacecraft Formation Flying: Dynamics, control and navigation. In this unique text, authors Alfriend et al. provide a coherent discussion of spacecraft relative motion, both in the unperturbed and perturbed settings, explain the main control approaches for regulating relative satellite dynamics, using both impulsive and continuous maneuvers, and present the main constituents required for relative navigation. The early chapters provide a foundation upon which later discussions are built, making this a complete, standalone offering. Intended for graduate students, professors and academic researchers in the fields of aerospace and mechanical engineering, mathematics, astronomy and astrophysics, Spacecraft Formation Flying is a technical yet accessible, forward-thinking guide to this critical area of astrodynamics. The first book dedicated to spacecraft formation flying, written by leading researchers and professors in the field Develops the theory from an astrodynamical viewpoint, emphasizing modeling, control and navigation of formation flying satellites on Earth orbits Examples used to illustrate the main developments, with a sample simulation of a formation flying mission included to illustrate high fidelity modeling, control and relative navigation