A perspective on space robotics in Japan

This report summarizes the research and development status and perspective on space robotics in Japan. The R & D status emphasizes the current on-going projects at NASDA including the JEM Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) to be used on Space Station Freedom and the robotics experiments on Engineering Satellite 7 (ETS-7). As a future perspective, not only NASDA, but also ISAS and other government institutes have been promoting their own research in space robotics in order to support wide spread space activities in the future. Included in this future research is an autonomous satellite retrieval experiment, a dexterous robot experiment, an on-orbit servicing platform, an IVA robot, and several moon/planetary rovers proposed by NASDA or ISAS and other organizations

A Generalized Multi-Commodity Network Flow Model for the Earth-Moon-Mars Logistics System

Simple logistics strategies such as "carry-along" and Earth-based "resupply" were sufficient for past human space programs. Next-generation space logistics paradigms are expected to be more complex, involving multiple exploration destinations and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). Optional ISRU brings additional complexity to the interplanetary supply chain network design problem. This paper presents an interdependent network flow modeling method for determining optimal logistics strategies for space exploration and its application to the human exploration of Mars. It is found that a strategy utilizing lunar resources in the cislunar network may improve overall launch mass to low Earth orbit for recurring missions to Mars compared to NASA’s Mars Design Reference Architecture 5.0, even when including the mass of the ISRU infrastructures that need to be pre-deployed. Other findings suggest that chemical propulsion using LOX/LH[subscript 2], lunar ISRU water production, and the use of aerocapture significantly contribute to reducing launch mass from Earth. A sensitivity analysis of ISRU reveals that under the given assumptions, local lunar resources become attractive at productivity levels above 1.8 kg/year/kg in the context of future human exploration of Mars.Jet Propulsion Laboratory (U.S.). Strategic University Research Partnerships Progra

Approach Planning and Guidance for Uncontrolled Rotating Satellite Capture Considering Collision Avoidance

The problem of planning safe kinematic approach trajectories for robotic capture of an uncontrolled rotating satellite is addressed, and two methods of trajectory planning are presented. The first method uses equations of orbital mechanics to plan a passive fly-by approach path for certain conditions of target satellite motion. The second method uses optimization techniques to plan an approach trajectory that is optimized with respect to a set of performance metrics. Results of these methods for representative scenarios are presented, and the relative merits of each method are discussed. 1

EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR MULTI-DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

“System Design and Management” program, a study that integrates humanities and sciences by crossing many disciplines, is essential to foster talented persons who can lead in the development and operation of large-scale complex systems that are symbiotic, safe and secure. The subject of the new graduate school education is large-scale complex technological and social systems, with an education curriculum that provides practically oriented lectures through which students can acquire the capacity to consider systems, the faculty to design systems in line with system life cycles, and the ability for system management. By collaborating with industries and related stakeholders such as domestic and international educational research institutions, we designed an educational curriculum. As for the establishment of the graduate school in April 2008, the educational curriculum was formed to provide students with opportunities to acquire must-learn capability and knowledge that were classified into six groups. The validity of the education method was confirmed based on verification of the students’ self-evaluation and evaluation by the external evaluation committee after the first two years of graduate education