Flight hardware development for a space-based robotic assembly and servicing testbed
Name
891567595-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
27.89 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
7a9bdad8d61aa31b4b56ba3643006aeb
Author(s)
McCarthy, Bryan Patrick
Advisor(s)
Alvar Saenz-Otero and David W. Miller.
Date Issued
2014
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Robotic assembly and servicing missions in space are becoming increasingly attractive for their potential to expand space capabilities and save money. Future missions may construct large systems on-orbit, service existing space assets, or remove retired satellites from valuable locations in the Geosynchronous orbit, among other things. Due to the high-risk nature of these missions, rigorous test facilities are a necessity. This thesis examines the existing testbeds for robotic assembly and servicing technologies and argues that a new, space-based testbed is necessary. It presents initial ground testing results for applicable control concepts, which also indicate that the dynamic authenticity associated with a six-degree-of-freedom on-orbit testbed is crucial for further development. This thesis then presents the requirements for such a testbed and describes the SPHERES Facility on the International Space Station. The facility, created by members of MIT's Space Systems Laboratory, has many of the desired testbed characteristics and can be easily expanded to meet the requirements through a hardware augmentation known as the Halo. The thesis develops the requirements for the Halo and then steps through the conception, design, and implementation of that hardware, along with the planned operations aboard the International Space Station.
Description
Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. "This material is declared a work of the United States Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States."
Includes bibliographical references (pages 161-165).
Subjects
Aeronautics and Astronautics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Persistent DSpace Link
