Orbital Express completes first autonomous free flight and capture

May 11, 2007

This artist's rendition of Orbital Express during unmated operations was generated using the Boeing SimWorks simulation software. ASTRO is observed during final approach after flying several kilometers away and having performed a flyaround inspection of N

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This is a view of the Integrated Light Assembly (ILA) and two of the ASTRO antennas. The ILA is made by MDA of Canada and will illuminate the NextSat during approach. In the upper right of the picture a corner of ARCSS sensor cover can be seen. This cover

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This is a view of one of the ARCSS sensor covers. The Advanced Video Guidance System sponsored by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is behind this sensor cover. This cover, which provides contamination protection during launch vehicle integration, launc

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Still image from the Orbital Express Manipulator camera. This image is of the sep ring that is currently holding ASTRO and NEXTSat together. The Sep Ring will be ejected during Scenario 1-1 operations. In the upper right of the picture one of the AVGS lon

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Still image from the Orbital Express Manipulator camera. This image is raw and shows the NextSat OEDMS target used when performing Free Flyer Capture operations. In the background the DARPA, STP-1 and NASA logos can be seen. Photo: Boeing/MDA image courte

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Orbital Express ASTRO and NextSat autonomously perform operations while unmated.

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This image of NEXTSat was captured by ASTRO's Visible Sensor 2 on April 17. Note the battery Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU) in place on NEXTSat (large box on the left side of the image). The Battery ORU was transferred from ASTRO to NEXTSat during Scenari

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May 11, 2007 The Boeing Orbital Express system has completed another first by successfully performing a fully autonomous free-flight rendezvous and capture operation. The demonstration of the two-spacecraft system is part of an ongoing Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) mission to validate on-orbit servicing capabilities. Using its onboard cameras and advanced video guidance system, the Boeing Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations (ASTRO) servicing spacecraft separated from the NextSat client spacecraft, backed away to a distance of 10 meters (33 feet), maintained proximity flight with NextSat for a full orbit, and then approached and captured NextSat with its docking mechanism. The demonstration occurred at full spacecraft autonomy to mark the first on-orbit rendezvous and capture operation performed with no active exchange of relative navigation information or any intervention or control from the ground.

"This successful demonstration is a critical milestone for the Orbital Express program," said Alex Lopez, vice president of Boeing Advanced Network and Space Systems. "On-orbit proximity and rendezvous capability is required to service satellites. Satellite servicing capability can reduce operations costs, increase spacecraft life and enable new space system architectures."

"It was impressive to watch this historic event," said Bob Friend, Boeing Orbital Express program manager and chief systems engineer. "With a single command to start the scenario, ASTRO performed all subsequent operations from de-mate through final capture and mate. I am extremely proud of the entire team on this accomplishment."

During the next major unmated operation (Scenario 3-1), ASTRO will depart NextSat to a range of 30 meters (98 feet), then approach and perform a free flight capture of NextSat using its robotic arm.

The Orbital Express program is a DARPA-led effort to validate technologies required to perform on-orbit satellite servicing. Orbital Express team members include NASA, Ball Aerospace, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., and Starsys Research.

Orbital Express mission information and demonstration updates can be found at: http://www.boeing.com/orbitalexpress.

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