Development of Formation Flight and Docking Algorithms using the SPHERES Testbed

The MIT Space Systems Laboratory is developing the SPHERES formation flight testbed to provide the Air Force and NASA with a long term, replenishable, and upgradable testbed for the validation of high risk metrology, control, and autonomy technologies. These technologies are critical to the operation of distributed satellite and docking missions such as TechSat21, Starlight, Terrestrial Planet Finder, and Orbital Express. To approximate the dynamics encountered by these missions, the testbed consists of three microsatellites, or “spheres,” which can control their relative positions and orientations in six degrees of freedom. The testbed can operate in 2-D on a laboratory platform and in 3-D on NASA’s KC-135 and inside the International Space Station. SPHERES follows the lead of the Laboratory’s MODE (Middeck 0-gravity Dynamics Experiments) and MACE (Middeck Active Control Experiment) family of dynamics and control laboratories (STS-40, 42, 48, 62, 67, MIR, ISS) by providing a cost-effective laboratory with direct astronaut interaction that exploits the micro-gravity conditions of space. Flight tests aboard NASA’s KC-135 have confirmed the functionality of SPHERES as a formation flight test platform with dynamics representative of true spacecraft. Studies in the 2-D laboratory environment include master/slave algorithms and docking control

A multi-vehicle testbed and interface framework for the development and verification of separated spacecraft control algorithms

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 159-161).by Mark Ole Hilstad.S.M

UW Dawgstar: One Third of ION-F - An element of the Ionospheric Observation Nanosatellite Formation (ION-F)

The preliminary design for the UW Dawgstar nanosatellite is presented. The Dawgstar is a 13 kg satellite designed as a part of the University Nanosatellite Program funded by AFOSR, DARPA, AFRL, and NASA. The goal of this two-year program is to design, build, and fly nanosatellites. The mission overview is detailed, including the coupling with the University partners Utah State and Virginia Tech in the Ionospheric Observation Nanosatellite Formation (ION-F). The mission includes several formations and formation keeping experiments, and distributed ionospheric measurements. Each of the subsystems is also detailed, including the design and integration of eight miniature pulsed plasma thrusters for attitude control and formation flying