An Assessment of the Technology of Automated Rendezvous and Capture in Space

NASA/TP-208528, Polites, M.E., An Assessment of the Technology of Automated Rendezvous and Capture in Space, Astrionics Laboratory, Science and Engineering Directorate, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812, July 1998, pp. 60, Format(s): PDF 1102k

View PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF viewer.

This paper presents the results of a study to assess the technology of automated rendezvous and capture (ARandC) in space. The outline of the paper is as follows. First, the history of manual and automated rendezvous and capture and rendezvous and dock is presented. Next, the need for ARandC in space is established. Then, today's technology and ongoing technology efforts related to ARandC in space are reviewed. In light of these, ARandC systems are proposed that meet NASA's future needs, but can be developed in a reasonable amount of time with a reasonable amount of money. Technology plans for developing these systems are presented; cost and schedule are included

Keywords:	automated rendezvous and capture, automated rendezvous and dock, automated rendezvous and berth, automated rendezvous and inspection, technology assessment
Subjects:	Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications,Command And Tracking: Tracking
ID Code:	456
Deposited On:	19 July 2002