Towards Standardization of an Autonomous Tele-operated Free-Flying Space Robotic Servicing Mission and Building an International in-Orbit Satellite Servicing Station

Abstract

This paper presents a basic structure for an international standardization of an autonomous free-flying space robotics servicing mission. Servicing and rescuing failed satellites/spacecrafts can make a benefit of such a standard. In orbit-servicing measures and definitions have been introduced which include: mission statement, objectives, stages, tasks and operations, modules, modularity, accessibility, reliability, monitoring, berthing, communication, programming. This structure may serve as a first step towards unifying servicing standards and building an international in-orbit satellite servicing station. Finally, using a control-oriented modeling approach is proposed which is suitable for a free-flying space robot with/without interaction with a target satellite, then simulation results are presented to demonstrate the proposed in-orbit servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope.