DLR Portal
Home|Sitemap|Contact Imprint and terms of use Privacy Cookies & Tracking |Deutsch
You are here: Home:Organisation:Spaceflight Technology (GSOC):On-Orbit-Servicing
Advanced Search
Service Portfolio
Space Missions
Control Center
Ground Station Weilheim
Mobile Rocket Base
Events
Publications
Recommended Books
Images and Videos
Organisation
Mission Operations (GSOC)
Mission Technology (GSOC)
Communication and Ground Stations (GSOC)
Spaceflight Technology (GSOC)
GNSS Technology & Navigation
On-Orbit-Servicing
Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
Flight Dynamics
Astronaut Training (EAC)
Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC)
Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA)
Controlling and Acquisition
Job Offers
Links
Kids Corner
News Archive
Reach Us
Print

On Orbit Servicing and Autonomy



The "On-Orbit Servicing and Autonomy" group of the Space Flight Technology department conducts applied research for future robotic OOS-missions (On-Orbit Servicing) and for Earth observation missions.

In the field of On-orbit Servicing, new GNC-concepts (Guidance, Navigation and Control) based on optical navigation (camera, LIDAR) are developed for the approach to non-cooperative targets like satellites at the end of their life-cycle or space debris. With the robotic test facility EPOS 2.0 (European Proximity Operations Simulator) the rendezvous and docking (RvD) process, as well as the developed GNC-methods are verified by HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) simulations.

The research goal for Earth observation missions is the development of intelligent on-board processing methods for Earth observation data. They allow for a significant optimization of such missions. Additionally, completely new applications can be realized, as the detection of ships for maritime real-time surveillance.

Research Topics

GNC-Concepts for the Rendezvous-Phase

 LIDAR point cloud
zum Bild LIDAR point cloud

 

  • Camera-based Navigation
  • Time of Flight Sensor Navigation (PMD, LIDAR)
  • Development of Approach-Concepts and GNC Systems

 

 

 

 

Hardware in the Loop RvD Simulation

 RvD-Simulator EPOS 2.0
zum Bild RvD-Simulator EPOS 2.0

 

  • EPOS 2.0 – Robotic RvD-Simulator
  • Closed Loop Rendezvous Simulation in Real-Time
  • OOS End-to-End Simulation
  • Verification and Test of Rvd Sensors and Systems
  • Testcampaigns with Internal and External Partners

 

 

 

Intelligent On-board Processing of Earth Observation Data

 On-Board Ship Detection
zum Bild On-Board Ship Detection

 

  • VIMOS – Verification of IMage analysis Onboard a Spacecraft
  • OBC-NG – On-Board-Computer Next Generation
  • AMARO - Autonomous Real-time Detection of mobile maritime Objects
  • ScOSA - Scalable On-Board Computing for Space Avionics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Completed Projects and Studies

  • VIBANASS – Vision Based Navigation Sensor System
  • FOSTERNAV – Flash Optical Sensor for Terrain Relative Robotic Navigation
  • iBOSS – intelligent Building blocks for On-orbit Satellite Servicing
  • PRISMA – Prototype Research Instruments and Space Mission technology Advancement
  • DEOS – German Orbital Servicing Mission
  • OLEV – Oribital Life Extension Vehicle

 


Contact
Dr. Heike Frei
German Aerospace Center

Space Operations and Astronaut Training

Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling

Tel.: +49 8153 28-1465

Video On-Orbit Servicing – End-to-End Simulation
Related Topics
Spacecraft Design, Testing and Performance
Avionics and Aircraft Instrumentation
Space Transportation and Safety
Copyright © 2022 German Aerospace Center (DLR). All rights reserved.