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  • Development of a UK National In-Orbit Servicing Facility

    Paper number

    IAC-19,A6,IP,1,x49996

    Author

    Ms. Alexandra Gravereaux, United Kingdom, Astroscale Ltd

    Coauthor

    Mr. Andrea Puppa, United Kingdom, Astroscale Ltd

    Coauthor

    Mr. Alberto Fernandez, United Kingdom, Astroscale Ltd

    Coauthor

    Dr. Jason Forshaw, United Kingdom, Astroscale Ltd

    Coauthor

    Mr. John Auburn, United Kingdom, Astroscale Ltd

    Year

    2019

    Abstract
    The market for in-orbit servicing (IOS) is rapidly growing and on the horizon are a range of in-orbit servicing missions planned, or already in production.  Types of service include: life extension, satellite relocation, repair, refuelling and active debris removal.  Founded in 2013, Astroscale’s mission is to secure long-term spaceflight safety, and to become a key provider of reliable and cost-efficient spacecraft retrieval services to satellite operators.
    
    The National In-Orbit Servicing Control Centre (UK), hosted at the Satellite Applications Catapult (UK) and developed by Astroscale (prime) with Catapult, RHEA, GMV and SciSys subcontracts, is designed to provide the necessary infrastructure for in-orbit servicing.  Areas where an in-orbit servicing ground segment differs from classical ones are numerous, but include: complex ground segment-to-space segment interaction, operations during RPO-specific phases (such as tumbling capture), pass alignment to ensure ground station coverage during operations, and mission planning.  The facility has been developed as a multi-mission facility with a long-term view to provide capability for a variety of IOS missions.
    
    The ELSA-d (End of Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration) mission, due to launch in the early 2020 timeframe, will be the first mission to utilise the ground segment.  ELSA-d will demonstrate technologies for RPO by launching a chaser satellite attached to a small target satellite, which will then repeatedly separate and dock in orbit.  The mission will additionally rely on operational support from ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC).
    
    This interactive presentation gives a broad overview of the architectural elements of the control centre and the manner in which it works, including examining future in-orbit servicing missions that could be operated from the centre.
    Abstract document

    IAC-19,A6,IP,1,x49996.brief.pdf

    Manuscript document

    (absent)