Reduced Gravity Flight Demonstration of Synchronized Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) Universal Docking Ports

In 2015, the DARPA Phoenix mission will demonstrate robotic servicing and assembly for the purposes of harvesting retired communications satellites. To provide a testing environment for these new technologies, the Phoenix team has paired with the MIT Space Systems Lab to utilize the Synchronized Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) testbed onboard the International Space Station (ISS). As part of this partnership, MIT has developed a Universal Docking Port (UDP) designed to enable multiple (SPHERES) to rigidly dock and undock. To maximize the ISS test session productivity, a parabolic flight campaign is used to bridge the gap between 2D and 3D docking and undocking operations. The parabolic flight campaign will validate the design of the UDP in a full 6-DOF environment, prior to ISS operations.

3 Questions: Lennon Rodgers on docking in space
With NASA’s help, AeroAstro students work in a space-like environment

This technology will benefit other government agencies and the space industry by providing a testing environment to demonstrate robotic servicing and assembly for the purpose of harvesting retired communication satellites.

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