Session
Technical Session IV: Policies, Practices, or Methods to Enhance Low-Cost Space Access
Abstract
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is building and demonstrating a new class of low-cost satellites, referred to as “micro-satellites,” weighing in at less than 100 kilograms. These new satellites are being flown under the Experimental Spacecraft System (XSS) program and will demonstrate the capabilities of microsatellites for future Air Force missions. The XSS series demonstrates basic proximity operations capabilities onorbit and will address both technical and operational risks before committing to micro-satellite system development programs. The first mission, XSS-10, resulted in a 31-kilogram micro-satellite being launched as a secondary mission on a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle along with a Global Position Satellite on January 29, 2003. The mission objectives were to demonstrate autonomous navigation, proximity operations, and inspection of another space object; a critical part of our overall strategic plan for space. The XSS-10 is a giant step in space support technologies and demonstrated capabilities needed on space support missions such as on-orbit servicing and health monitoring. The XSS-10 is a building block for future space operations. Mission operations were conducted on January 30, 2003 when XSS-10 ejected from the Delta second stage and successfully demonstrated autonomous navigation and maneuvering in close proximity to the second stage using innovative guidance and control software. The XSS-10 featured a miniature communications system, a compact avionics, unibody propulsion, and a high-resolution integrated camera that facilitated close inspection. During the mission, XSS-10 traveled within 100 meters of the second-stage booster of the Delta II rocket, to take photographs and transmit the images back to ground from a low-Earth orbital position 800 kilometers above the equator. XSS-10 mission results were positive with all primary objectives achieved; lessons learned are being transitioned to other micro-satellite initiatives. This paper will review the development and flight qualification of the XSS-10 micro-satellite and discuss the results of the January 2003 flight experiment.
Presentation Slides
XSS-10 Micro-Satellite Flight Demonstration Program
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is building and demonstrating a new class of low-cost satellites, referred to as “micro-satellites,” weighing in at less than 100 kilograms. These new satellites are being flown under the Experimental Spacecraft System (XSS) program and will demonstrate the capabilities of microsatellites for future Air Force missions. The XSS series demonstrates basic proximity operations capabilities onorbit and will address both technical and operational risks before committing to micro-satellite system development programs. The first mission, XSS-10, resulted in a 31-kilogram micro-satellite being launched as a secondary mission on a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle along with a Global Position Satellite on January 29, 2003. The mission objectives were to demonstrate autonomous navigation, proximity operations, and inspection of another space object; a critical part of our overall strategic plan for space. The XSS-10 is a giant step in space support technologies and demonstrated capabilities needed on space support missions such as on-orbit servicing and health monitoring. The XSS-10 is a building block for future space operations. Mission operations were conducted on January 30, 2003 when XSS-10 ejected from the Delta second stage and successfully demonstrated autonomous navigation and maneuvering in close proximity to the second stage using innovative guidance and control software. The XSS-10 featured a miniature communications system, a compact avionics, unibody propulsion, and a high-resolution integrated camera that facilitated close inspection. During the mission, XSS-10 traveled within 100 meters of the second-stage booster of the Delta II rocket, to take photographs and transmit the images back to ground from a low-Earth orbital position 800 kilometers above the equator. XSS-10 mission results were positive with all primary objectives achieved; lessons learned are being transitioned to other micro-satellite initiatives. This paper will review the development and flight qualification of the XSS-10 micro-satellite and discuss the results of the January 2003 flight experiment.
