Future Missions Research Articles

Observing the galactic underworld: Predicting photometry and astrometry from compact remnant microlensing events

Abstract Isolated black holes (BHs) and neutron stars (NSs) are largely undetectable across the electromagnetic spectrum. For this reason, our only real prospect of observing these isolated compact remnants is via microlensing; a feat recently performed for the first time. However, characterisation of the microlensing events caused by BHs and NSs is still in its infancy. In this work, we perform N-body simulations to explore the frequency and physical characteristics of microlensing events across the entire sky. Our simulations find that every year we can expect $88_{-6}^{+6}$ BH, $6.8_{-1.6}^{+1.7}$ NS and $20^{+30}_{-20}$ stellar microlensing events which cause an astrometric shift larger than 2 mas. Similarly, we can expect $21_{-3}^{+3}$ BH, $18_{-3}^{+3}$ NS and $7500_{-500}^{+500}$ stellar microlensing events which cause a bump magnitude larger than 1 mag. Leveraging a more comprehensive dynamical model than prior work, we predict the fraction of microlensing events caused by BHs as a function of Einstein time to be smaller than previously thought. Comparison of our microlensing simulations to events in Gaia finds good agreement. Finally, we predict that in the combination of Gaia and GaiaNIR data there will be $14700_{-900}^{+600}$ BH and $1600_{-200}^{+300}$ NS events creating a centroid shift larger than 1 mas and $330_{-120}^{+100}$ BH and $310_{-100}^{+110}$ NS events causing bump magnitudes >1. Of these, <10 BH and $5_{-5}^{+10}$ NS events should be detectable using current analysis techniques. These results inform future astrometric mission design, such as GaiaNIR, as they indicate that, compared to stellar events, there are fewer observable BH events than previously thought.

Spatial Resolution as a Factor for Efficient UAV-Based Weed Mapping—A Soybean Field Case Study

The influence of spatial resolution on classification accuracy strongly depends on the research object. With regard to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based weed mapping, contradictory results on the influence of spatial resolution have been attained so far. Thus, this study evaluates the effect of spatial resolution on the classification accuracy of weeds in a soybean field located in Belm, Lower Saxony, Germany. RGB imagery of four spatial resolutions (0.27, 0.55, 1.10, and 2.19 cm ground sampling distance) corresponding to flight altitudes of 10, 20, 40, and 80 m were assessed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to classify the study area, using both pixel- and object-based approaches. Additionally, the flight and processing times were monitored. For the purpose of an accuracy assessment, the producer’s, user’s, and overall accuracies as well as the F1 scores were computed and analyzed for statistical significance. Furthermore, McNemar’s test was conducted to ascertain whether statistically significant differences existed between the classifications. A linear relationship between resolution and accuracy was found, with a diminishing accuracy as the resolution decreased. Pixel-based classification outperformed object-based classification across all the resolutions examined, with statistical significance (p < 0.05) for 10 and 20 m. The overall accuracies of the pixel-based approach ranged from 80 to 93 percent, while the accuracies of the object-based approach ranged from 75 to 87 percent. The most substantial drops in the weed-detection accuracy with regard to altitude occurred between 20 and 40 m for the pixel-based approach and between 10 and 20 m for the object-based approach. While the decline in accuracy was roughly linear as the flight altitude increased, the decrease in the total time required was exponential, providing guidance for the planning of future UAV-based weed-mapping missions.

The importance of reinforcing advanced ceramics in space projects

This article addresses the role of advanced ceramics in space exploration, highlighting their importance in tackling the unique challenges of the extraterrestrial environment. Starting with an analysis of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, lessons learned and safety measures implemented in the aftermath of the incident are discussed. The properties of advanced ceramics, including resistance to extreme temperatures, chemical stability, and thermal insulation capability, are explored, along with their applicability in space missions, such as radiation protection, resistance to debris, and propulsion. Strategies for maximizing the resilience of ceramics in space environments are examined, including advanced manufacturing techniques and continuous monitoring systems. Finally, specific applications of ceramics in space components, such as rocket nozzles, propulsion systems, and heat-to-electricity conversion, are discussed, emphasizing the ongoing need for innovation to ensure the success of future space missions.

Bioinspired flexible gripper for vacuum non-cooperative target capture

Abstract With the development of space exploration activities, the proliferation of non-cooperative targets in space, such as defunct satellites and space debris, has made the development of efficient and reliable non-cooperative target capture technologies in space a priority for space exploration. In this paper, a flexible gripper inspired by the dermo-muscular sac found in flatworms is presented to address the challenges of non-cooperative target capture in the vacuum environment of space. The gripper design leverages magnetorheological fluid (MRF) and a magnetic field to enable adjustable stiffness, facilitating the effective grasping of delicate target objects while ensuring a stable connection post-capture. Extensive tests demonstrate the strong potential of the gripper for space applications, showcasing its ability to adjust pre-grip contact force and increase gripping force by adjusting indentation depth. The simplicity of the design contributes to ease of manufacturing, making it a promising tool for future space missions.

Frequency of deployed emergency donor panel use prior to implementation of the low titre group O whole blood program

IntroductionThe US military has frequently used a ‘walking blood bank’, formally known as an ‘emergency donor panel’ (EDP) to obtain warm fresh whole blood (WFWB) which is then immediately transfused...

Reinforcement learning for path planning of free-floating space robotic manipulator with collision avoidance and observation noise

This study introduces a novel approach for the path planning of a 6-degree-of-freedom free-floating space robotic manipulator, focusing on collision and obstacle avoidance through reinforcement learning. It addresses the challenges of dynamic coupling between the spacecraft and the robotic manipulator, which significantly affects control and precision in the space environment. An innovative reward function is introduced in the reinforcement learning framework to ensure accurate alignment of the manipulator’s end effector with its target, despite disturbances from the spacecraft and the need for obstacle and collision avoidance. A key feature of this study is the use of quaternions for orientation representation to avoid the singularities associated with conventional Euler angles and enhance the training process’ efficiency. Furthermore, the reward function incorporates joint velocity constraints to refine the path planning for the manipulator joints, enabling efficient obstacle and collision avoidance. Another key feature of this study is the inclusion of observation noise in the training process to enhance the robustness of the agent. Results demonstrate that the proposed reward function enables effective exploration of the action space, leading to high precision in achieving the desired objectives. The study provides a solid theoretical foundation for the application of reinforcement learning in complex free-floating space robotic operations and offers insights for future space missions.

Inspiration4 data access through the NASA Open Science Data Repository

The increasing accessibility of commercial and private space travel necessitates a profound understanding of its impact on human health. The NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) provides transparent and FAIR access to biological studies, notably the SpaceX Inspiration4 (I4) mission, which amassed extensive data from civilian astronauts. This dataset encompasses omics and clinical assays, facilitating comprehensive research on space-induced biological responses. These data allow for multi-modal, longitudinal assessments, bridging the gap between human and model organism studies. Crucially, community-driven data standards established by NASA’s OSDR Analysis Working Groups empower artificial intelligence and machine learning to glean invaluable insights, guiding future mission planning and health risk mitigation. This article presents a concise guide to access and analyze I4 data in OSDR, including programmatic access through GLOpenAPI. This pioneering effort establishes a precedent for post-mission health monitoring programs within space agencies, propelling research in the burgeoning field of commercial space travel’s impact on human physiology.

Ulysses spacecraft in situ detections of cometary dust trails.

The Ulysses spacecraft was launched in 1990 and, after a Jupiter swing-by in 1992, became the first interplanetary spacecraft orbiting the Sun on a highly inclined trajectory with an inclination of [Formula: see text]. The spacecraft was equipped with an impact ionization dust detector which provided 17 years of in situ dust measurements in interplanetary space from 1990 to 2007. Cometary meteoroid streams (also referred to as trails) exist along the orbits of comets, forming fine structures of the interplanetary dust cloud. We use the Interplanetary Meteoroid Environment for eXploration (IMEX) dust streams in space model (Soja RH et al. 2015 Characteristics of the dust trail of 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko: an application of the IMEX model. Astron. Astrophys. 583, A18. (doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526184)) to predict cometary stream traverses by Ulysses and re-analyse the Ulysses dust dataset in order to identify impacts of cometary stream particles detected during such trail traverses. We identify 19 particles compatible with three Ulysses trail traverses on 12 March 1995, 25-27 April 2001 and 16-19 May 2001. The particle origin is compatible with up to five comets, i.e. 10P/Tempel 2, 146P/Shoemaker-LINEAR, 267P/LONEOS and possibly 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková and P/1999 RO28 (LONEOS). We find a dust spatial density in these trails of approximately [Formula: see text]. The radii of the detected cometary stream particles derived from the dust instrument calibration are in the micrometre range. The in situ analysis of meteoroid trail particles in space, which can be traced back to their source bodies, opens a new opportunity for remote compositional analysis of comets and asteroids without the necessity to send a spacecraft to or even land on these celestial bodies, opening new opportunities for future space missions equipped with in situ dust analyzers. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dust in the Solar System and beyond'.

Laboratory characterization of hydrothermally processed oligopeptides in ice grains emitted by Enceladus and Europa.

The Cassini mission provided evidence for a global subsurface ocean and ongoing hydrothermal activity on Enceladus, based on results from Cassini's mass spectrometers. Laboratory simulations of hydrothermal conditions on icy moons are needed to further constrain the composition of ejected ice grains containing hydrothermally altered organic material. Here, we present results from our newly established facility to simulate the processing of ocean material within the temperature range 80-150°C and the pressure range 80-130 bar, representing conditions suggested for the water-rock interface on Enceladus. With this new facility, we investigate the hydrothermal processing of triglycine (GGG) peptide and, for the first time, analyse the extracted samples using laser-induced liquid beam ion desorption (LILBID) mass spectrometry, a laboratory analogue for impact ionization mass spectrometry of ice grains in space. We outline an approach to elucidate hydrothermally processed GGG in ice grains ejected from icy moons based on characteristic differences between GGG anion and cation mass spectra. These differences are linked to hydrothermal processing and thus provide a fingerprint of hydrothermal activity on extraterrestrial bodies. These results will serve as important guidelines for biosignatures potentially obtained by a future Enceladus mission and the SUrface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) instrument onboard Europa Clipper. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dust in the Solar System and beyond'.

The Impact of Strategic Factor on Improving Performance Effectiveness for Construction Projects - A case Study

Mission, vision and strategy play an important role recognized today by most organizations. These tools are very beneficial in steering an organization in straight direction. Strategic factors (SF) rely on the interaction between internal and external factors and on determining the future mission and vision of the organization in the light of determined objectives, and regulatory strategies and policies. This study is an analytical study of Libyan Investment & Development Company (LIDCO) to determine the impact of the strategic factors on improvement of evaluation effectiveness of LIDCO performance using SWOT in conjunction with following criteria: (Total Quality Management Criteria, Quality Performance Criteria and Competitive Position Criteria). The researchers used the descriptive analytical method to analyse the content using the statistical method and the strategic analysis tool (SWOT) to understand the role and tasks that the company performs and the difficulties and obstacles facing its work by evaluating its performance to develop a strategic vision for the development of its performance. Results show delays by LIDCO in implementing projects as evaluation of the strategic factors were disregarded, leading to disregarding the application of competitive position criteria to project construction, lack of continuous improvement and of benchmarking. This paper contributes to how the factors affecting strategic planning are used and classified into different categories according to the point of view researchers in the field of strategic planning. And too knowledge of the factors influencing strategic planning, and it is very useful for engineers because of the various uses of the factors influencing strategic planning.

Work stress and caring intention among health care workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Healthcare workers may feel stress when caring for patients suspected as having a highly infectious and novel disease, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives This study aimed to identify the psychological responses and factors affecting these responses among healthcare workers in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Healthcare workers regardless of their experience in caring for COVID-19 patients in our hospital voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional study in April 2021. We used a self-assessment questionnaire with 70 items to identify the psychological responses and affecting factors. Results The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with eight stressors, including “frequent modification of infection control procedures,” “worrying about being negligent and endangering coworkers,” “worrying about lack of manpower,” “being without a properly fitted environment,” “protective gears being a drag in providing quality care,” “protective gears causing physical discomfort,” “worrying about inflicting COVID-19 on family” and “worrying about nosocomial spread.” Using multivariate logistic regression, “switching thoughts and facing the situation with positive attitudes” (odds ratio: 2.974, P = 0.011), “ever caring COVID-19 patients” (odds ratio: 1.990, P = 0.018), “I felt scared” (odds ratio: 0.180, P < 0.001), and “I thought it is unlucky” (odds ratio: 0.492, P = 0.029) were identified as independent factors for the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases. Conclusion The experience of caring for COVID-19 patients was significantly associated with several stressors related to psychological, practical, and environmental aspects, but not with immediate reactions to the mission. Experiences in caring for COVID-19 patients and positive attitudes could increase the healthcare workers’ willingness to participate in future missions regarding infectious respiratory diseases, and feeling scared and unlucky can reduce this willingness.

Multifunctional double cold source system using temperature-sensitive hydrogel for cooling extravehicular spacesuits

The development of future space missions aimed at extended distances has challenged the thermal protection performance of extravehicular spacesuits. The use of more efficient and lightweight cooling systems in spacesuits can reduce costs and promote the advancement of human spaceflight. This study applies the temperature-sensitive hydrogel to the cooling system of the spacesuit, which combined with a water sublimator constitutes a double cooling source that dissipates heat simultaneously. As shown by modeling and simulation, the novel system effectively dissipates heat, with an 11.42% increase in total heat dissipation over the conventional method. Furthermore, the hydrogel can store water, and the water released during heat dissipation is provided to the sublimator for backup, reducing water consumption by 31.2% and lowering consumable demand. We defined the sublimation water release heat dissipation ratio, and it ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 in different operating modes, with the water sublimator serving as the primary cooling source. The research results suggest that the novel double cold source system can deploy heat dissipation capacity according to heat load distribution and flexibly meet the requirements of various tasks. The double cold source system is a highly efficient thermal management system that provides a novel approach to optimizing spacesuits.

Detectability of Seamount Eruptions Through a Quantum Technology Gravity Mission MOCAST+: Hunga Tonga, Fani Maoré and Other Smaller Eruptions

AbstractSeamount eruptions alter the bathymetry and can occur undetected due to lack of explosive character. We review documented eruptions to define whether they could be detected by a future satellite gravity mission. We adopt the noise level in acquisitions of multi-satellite constellations as in the MOCAST+ study, with a proposed payload of a quantum technology gradiometer and clock. The review of underwater volcanoes includes the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai (HTHH) islands for which the exposed surface changed during volcanic unrests of 2014/2015 and 2021/2022. The Fani Maoré submarine volcanic eruption of 2018–2021 produced a new seamount 800 m high, emerging from a depth of 3500 m, and therefore not seen above sea surface. We review further documented submarine eruptions and estimate the upper limit of the expected gravity changes. We find that a MOCAST+ type mission should allow us to detect the subsurface mass changes generated by deep ocean submarine volcanic activity for volume changes of 6.5 km3 upwards, with latency of 1 year. This change is met by the HTHH and Fani Maoré volcanoes.

AI-Driven Dim-Light Adaptive Camera (DimCam) for Lunar Robots

Abstract. The past decade has been a boom in lunar exploration. China, India, Japan and other countries have successfully landed landers or rovers on the lunar surface (Wu et al., 2014, 2018, 2020; Prasad et al., 2023). Future missions to explore the Moon are focusing on the lunar south pole (Peña-Asensio et al., 2024). The solar altitude angle at the lunar south pole is extremely low, resulting in low solar irradiance and large areas often in dim light or shadows. The permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) at the lunar south pole are also likely containing substantial amounts of water ice (Li et al., 2018). Future lunar robots exploring the lunar south pole will need to operate in low light or shadowed regions, making camera sensors sensitive to the dim-light environments necessary for these robots. Common night vision sensors usually use near-infrared cameras. However, sensors based on passive infrared technology have image resolution limited by several factors, including the intensity of infrared radiation emitted by the object, the sensitivity of the camera, and the performance of the optical system. For instance, thermal imagers typically have a resolution of 388*284 pixels only. We have developed a dim-light adaptive camera (DimCam) that is ultra-sensitive to the varying illumination conditions driven by AI to achieve high-definition imaging of 1080P or above, for future lunar robots operating in shadows or dim-light regions. The DimCam integrates two starlight-level ultra-sensitive imaging sensors connected by a rigid base to provide stereo vision in low illumination environment. An AI edge computing unit is embedded inside the DimCam to adaptively denoise and enhance image quality. The AI module uses an end-to-end image denoising network to identify and remove noises in the images more accurately by utilizing depth information from the stereo sensors. Compared with traditional monocular denoising algorithms, the denoising network based on stereo vision can significantly improve denoising effects and efficiency by enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of the data input in the front end. The superposition of overlapping scenes can be regarded as a delayed exposure. Concurrently, the residual analysis of the aligned images aids in noise identification. In addition, for pixels obscured by noise, more accurate pixel values can be restored through interpolation or replacement using depth information obtained from the stereo sensors. Subsequently, a pre-trained lightweight deep network modified from Zero-DCE (Guo et al., 2020) is used for image quality enhancement in terms of brightness and contrast, providing high-quality images even in low-light environments for subsequent applications, such as positioning and navigation of robots, 3D mapping of the surrounding environment, and autonomous driven. We have tested the DimCam in a simulated environment in the laboratory, and the results show that the DimCam has promising performances and great potential for various applications.

Retrievals of aerosol optical depth over the western North Atlantic Ocean during ACTIVATE

Abstract. Aerosol optical depth was retrieved from two airborne remote sensing instruments, the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) and Second Generation High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL-2), during the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aerosol Cloud meTeorology Interactions oVer the western ATlantic Experiment (ACTIVATE). The field campaign offers a unique opportunity to evaluate an extensive 3-year dataset under a wide range of meteorological conditions from two instruments on the same platform. However, a long-standing issue in atmospheric field studies is that there is a lack of reference datasets for properly validating field measurements and estimating their uncertainties. Here we address this issue by using the triple collocation method, in which a third collocated satellite dataset from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is introduced for comparison. HSRL-2 is found to provide a more accurate retrieval than RSP over the study region. The error standard deviation of HSRL-2 with respect to the ground truth is 0.027. Moreover, this approach enables us to develop a simple, yet efficient, quality control criterion for RSP data. The physical reasons for the differences in two retrievals are determined to be cloud contamination, aerosols near the surface, multiple aerosol layers, absorbing aerosols, non-spherical aerosols, and simplified retrieval assumptions. These results demonstrate the pathway for optimal aerosol retrievals by combining information from both lidars and polarimeters for future airborne and satellite missions.

A future mission to Moon could safely land here

A future mission to Moon could safely land here

Extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) observables of simulated plasmoid-mediated reconnection in the solar corona

Understanding the role of magnetic reconnection in the heating and dynamics of the solar atmosphere requires detailed observational data of any observable aspect of the reconnection process, including small-scale features such as plasmoids. Here, we examine the capability of active and upcoming instruments to detect plasmoids generated by reconnection in the corona including low-density regimes. We used the Bifrost code to perform simulations of plasmoid-mediated reconnection in the corona with a 2D idealized setup: a fan-spine topology with uniform density including thermal conduction. Through a forward-modeling of extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) observables, we checked whether our simulated plasmoids could be detected with the instruments of Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Solar Orbiter (SO), as well as the upcoming Multi-Slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and Solar-C missions. Short-lived ($ 10-20$ s) small-scale ($ 0.2-0.5$ Mm) coronal plasmoids are not resolvable with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board SDO. In contrast, they could be captured with the EUV High-Resolution Imager at the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI-HRI$_ EUV $) of SO. The spatial and temporal high-resolution planned for the MUSE spectrograph (SG) is adequate to obtain full spectral information of these plasmoids. To achieve a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for sim 0.8 MK plasmoids in the MUSE/SG 171 channel, full-raster images are attainable for regions with electron densities above $10^9\ cm^ $, while sit-and-stare observations are recommended for lower-density regions. The future Solar-C mission could also capture these coronal plasmoids using the EUV High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope (EUVST), considering rapid changes in Doppler shift and line widths in different EUV lines caused by plasmoid motions along the current sheet. With the combined spectra of MUSE/SG and Solar-C/EUVST in multiple emission lines, along with high-resolution images from SO/EUI-HRI$_ EUV $ and MUSE/CI, it should be possible to gain new insights about plasmoid formation in the corona.

Direct Detection and Characterization of Exoplanets Using Imaging Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

Space-based direct imaging provides prospects for detection and spectral characterization of exoplanets at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. Integral field spectrographs (IFS) have been historically baselined for these mission concepts. However, multiple studies have revealed that detector noise is a serious obstacle for such instruments when observing extremely faint targets such as Earth-like planets. Imaging Fourier transform spectrographs (iFTS) are generally less sensitive to detector noise, and have several other compelling features such as simultaneous imaging and spectroscopy, smaller-format detector requirements, and variable spectral resolving power. To date, they have not been studied as options for such missions. Here, we compare the capabilities of IFS and iFTS for directly obtaining spectra from an Earth-like planet using both analytic and numerical models. Specifically, we compare the required exposure times to achieve the same signal-to-noise ratio with the two architectures over a range of detector and optical system parameters. We find that for a 6 m telescope, an IFS outperforms an iFTS at optical wavelengths due to the effects of distributed photon noise. In the near-IR, the relative efficiency of an IFS and iFTS depends critically on the instrument design and detector noise. An iFTS will be more efficient than an IFS if the readout noise of the near-IR detector is above ∼2–3 e− pix−1 frame−1 (t frm = 1000 s), which correspond to half to one-third of the state-of-art detector noise. However, if the readout noise is reduced below this threshold, the performance of an IFS will experience a substantial improvement and become more efficient. These results motivate consideration of an iFTS as an alternative option for future direct imaging space missions in the near-IR.

Machine-Learning and Physics-Based Tool for Anomaly Identification in Propulsion Systems

Launch anomalies occur frequently during the early phase of a program, with many of the anomalies attributed to propulsion systems. Approaches for identifying and mitigating potential propulsion failures can aid development programs and accelerate the resolution of root cause investigations. In reusable systems, anomaly detection methods can be employed to detect latent system health issues that could become problematic as the system ages. Modern launch support relies on human judgement for redline limit generation and visual family data comparison for many operational aspects, which makes it challenging to identify failure modes and to diagnose an anomaly. Additionally, family data comparison is unavailable for the first few launches of a new vehicle. Automated tools to quickly identify system failures of new and reusable systems can bridge these gaps. Physics-based modeling and machine learning (PBMML) offers methods that can improve the reliability of new or reusable launch vehicles by identifying propulsion anomalies or issues before they jeopardize future space missions. PBMML can then be used to inform corrective actions. This paper describes an anomaly data generation module which automates the process of simulating anomalous scenarios in launch vehicle and fluid networks, while a long-term short-term memory network is used to provide real-time anomaly classification on a simplified stage test case.

Feasibility Analysis of a CubeSat Mission for Space Rider Observation and Docking

AbstractIn the last few years, the number of orbiting satellites has increased exponentially, in particular due to the development of the New Space Economy. Even if this phenomenon makes the space more accessible, bringing a great contribution to the scientific, economic and technological fields, on the other hand it contributes to the overpopulation of the space background. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new techniques to manage the space environment, such as in orbit servicing, which is a procedure that aims to refuel and repair satellites to extend their operational life. A first step to reach this goal is to inspect closely the object of interest to study its features. In this framework, the Space Rider Observer Cube (SROC) mission is being developed. SROC is a payload that will be deployed by Space Rider (SR), an uncrewed and reusable robotic spacecraft designed by ESA (European Space Agency). SROC is a 12U CubeSat, whose goal is to carry out inspection manoeuvres around SR, then re-enter on board using a safe docking system to come back to Earth. The feasibility of a mission similar to SROC has been simulated during a university class, starting from the definition of the system requirements with particular focus on the analysis of the payloads and subsystems, to ensure the achievement of the mission goals. In particular, the CubeSat is equipped with an imaging payload to capture high resolution images of Space Rider surface and a docking mechanism. Then, the design of the orbit and the simulation of the effects of the space environment on the CubeSat have been studied using GMAT, SYSTEMA, MATLAB and other numerical tools. The results of the study are useful for future missions, aiming to inspect orbiting objects, such as operative satellites for in orbit servicing, space debris and dead satellites to study their geometries and plan their removal.