On-orbit servicing

• Published in: IEEE robotics & automation magazine Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 29 - 33
• Main Authors: Stoll, E., Letschnik, J., Walter, U., Artigas, J., Kremer, P., Preusche, C., Hirzinger, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.12.2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bolting; Bolts; Computer programs; Computer science; control theory; systems; Control theory. Systems; data relay satellite; Delay; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Infrared detectors; Launches; Low earth orbit satellites; On-orbit servicing; Orbital robotics; Orbits; Panels; physical human-robot interaction; Robotics; Satellite broadcasting; Satellite ground stations; Software; Solar energy; Space environment; Space missions; Space robotics; Space shuttles; Space vehicles; Spacecraft; telerobotics; Space application; Orbit; Robotics
• ISSN: 1070-9932; 1558-223X
• DOI: 10.1109/MRA.2009.934819

Space robots were the topic of this paper. While on earth, nobody would follow such advice; in space, there are few other options than to replace a malfunctioning spacecraft. There are no repair shops and gas stations in the Earth orbit. Because of the lack of so-called on-orbit servicing (OOS) opportunities, some malfunctioning spacecraft continue operational work with reduced or hardly any performance. The only general modification, which can currently be undertaken to an arbitrary spacecraft in orbit, is a software update. In this paper, exploration and manipulation capabilities of space robots were discussed. Teleprescence through a data relay satellite and teleoperation capabilities were mentioned and discussed.