Asvis, an operational vehicle servicing the ISS

Paper number

IAC-06-C1.6.02

Author

Mr. Juan Manuel del Cura, SENER Ingeneria y Sistemas, S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Amador Lopez, SENER Ingeneria y Sistemas, S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Victor Marco, Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Emilio Vez, SENER Ingeneria y Sistemas, S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Pablo Colmenarejo, GMV S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Fernando Gandia, GMV S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mr. Luigi Strippoli, GMV S.A., Spain

Coauthor

Mrs. Pia Mitschdoerfer, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Guillermo Ortega, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2006

Abstract

The Automatic Servicing Vehicle for ISS Surveying (ASVIS) is based on an unmanned vehicle operating outside the ISS. ASVIS starts its missions from an external Base Platform available for external payloads. ASVIS is an operative system designed for providing services to the ISS like: inspection at different ranges (both periodical and on-demand) and support to EVA. The maximum duration of each mission for the autonomous vehicle is 10 hours and the frequency of the missions is twice per month during a 10 years lifetime. Once the autonomous vehicle is docked at the Base Platform, some maintenance operations are performed: battery recharging, tanks refuelling (propulsion is based on nitrogen) and software updates. The Base Platform hosts a Cold Gas Storage system and Solar cells in order to provide all the required power and the fuel ASVIS needs. In addition, a Monitoring and Control System (MCS) is located inside the ISS for controlling the whole system, action performed by an IVA crewmember. A Ground Monitoring and Control System (GMCS) has also been defined.

A mission survey has been performed as a previous step of the definition of a nominal mission, which may be composed of the following mission modes:

• Global ISS survey inspection mode

• Single ISS element/module survey inspection

• Single point survey inspection

• Support to EVA

A full set of mission, safety and vehicle requirements have been identified taking into account the stringent conditions imposed on all vehicles flying in the vicinity of the ISS. After defining the requirements and the mission, a conceptual design of the overall vehicle configuration has been made. In addition, the Guidance, Navigation and Control subsystem has been designed in detail and tested in a specific Test Bench with 3D Visualisation features.

Main features of the ASVIS S/C are:

• Visible and IR cameras as Payload.

• Autonomous GNC around the International Space Station based on optical navigation and differential GPS with Reaction Wheels and Cold Gas Thrusters.

• Power subsystem based on rechargeable batteries (Li-Ion)

• Propulsion subsystem based on Nitrogen, including 16 thrusters for redundant trajectory and attitude control.

• Crew Handling Devices implemented

• Data, power and fuel interface at the docking port

• S/C Mass: 99,8 kg (25

• S/C Average power: 108 W (25

• Height: 734 mm.

• Largest diameter: 869 mm.

The paper presents the overall system concept which is proposed, including mission aspects, and the analysed performance obtained after the validation campaign.

Abstract document

IAC-06-C1.6.02.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-C1.6.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.