Development and Testing of an Autonomous Satellite Docking System

Michigan Aerospace has developed a new autonomous satellite docking and servicing system for the Orbital Express program. The new design is based on analysis and technology assessments performed in the Phase I SBIR. As a result of this analysis andassessment, it was determined that the Michigan Aerospace docking and servicing mechanism design provides the most viable solution for both a near-term demonstration and operational autonomous satellite docking system. We also believe that further groundtesting of sensors and auto-GNC algorithms, as well as the docking and servicing mechanism, are required. A near-term test of these subsystems, individually and together as a system, will provide valuable hard data to support the Orbital Express designphase. Several organizations have prototypes of systems in these two areas, but require testing to validate their performance. In Phase II, Michigan Aerospace is proposing to build the next generation docking and servicing mechanism and test thismechanism along with the other systems described above, at Marshall Space Flight Center. It is believed that the technology development and testing plan proposed by Michigan Aerospace will help meet the requirements of the Orbital Express demonstrationand promote the maturation of technology needed for the operational system.