SPARTANS - A cooperating spacecraft testbed for autonomous proximity operations experiments

Valmorbida, Andrea; Mazzucato, Mattia; Tronco, Sergio; Debei, S.; Lorenzini, Enrico

doi:10.1109/i2mtc.2015.7151360

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The whole module is painted in black to reduce the interference by multiple reflexions with the laboratory motion capture system. The air carriage system and the test table are part of the SPARTANS facility [57][58][59][60], that can be seen in Fig. 3.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Test of Tethered Deorbiting of Space Debris

Olivieri

Valmorbida

Sarego

et al. 2020

Adv. Astronaut. Sci. Technol.

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Current investigations on space tethers include their application to space debris deorbiting, specifically on the set of manoeuvres performed by a chaser tug to change the orbital parameters of a target body. Targets can be cooperative spacecraft at the end of their life or uncontrolled objects such as defunct satellites without clearly available capturing interfaces. In this latter case, a link joining tug and target may be misaligned with the target body inertia axes, influencing the attitude of both bodies; in case of rigid links, torques transmitted during tugging operations may overcome the tug attitude control system. This issue is clearly less significant in case of non-rigid connections, such as tethers; furthermore, with such connections the chaser can remain at a safe distance from the target during the whole deorbiting operation. On the other side, the initial phase of tethered space debris removal manoeuvres can be influenced by transient events, such as sudden tether tension spikes, that may cause longitudinal and lateral oscillations and, in case of resonance with the target attitude dynamics, could represent a serious issue for tug safety. In this paper it is proposed to provide the tug with a tether deployer mechanism capable to perform reel-in and reel-out, smoothing loads transmission to the target and damping oscillations. This concept is validated through a representative test campaign performed with the SPAcecRraft Testbed for Autonomous proximity operatioNs experimentS (SPARTANS) on a low friction table. A prototype of the deployer is manufactured and the deployment and rewind of a thin aluminium tape tether is proven. Test results include the verification of the tether visco-elastic characteristics with the direct measurement of spikes and oscillations and the estimation of the proposed system damping capabilities.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Test of Tethered Deorbiting of Space Debris

Olivieri

Valmorbida

Sarego

et al. 2020

Adv. Astronaut. Sci. Technol.

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“…To validate the main technologies involved in the E.T.PACK project, a series of experiments was performed at the University of Padova. The test activity was performed in the SPARTANS facility laboratory [76] [77], consisting of a 2-m x 3-m zero-friction testing table with a free floating module (Figure 13). The Module is composed of a translational module and a mock-up of a tether deployer and its motion is tracked by a set of IR cameras aimed at spherical IR markers placed on the module.…”

Section: Experimental Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Validation of enabling technologies for deorbiting devices based on electrodynamic tethers

et al. 2022

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“…The experiment is being carried out with the SPARTANS facility of the University of Padova [20]- [22], that includes a 2 m by 3 m Testing Table, over which the tip mass mock-up can move at very-low friction, and a Motion Capture (MC) system with 6 infra-red cameras with acquisition frequency of 50 Hz to track the motion of retro-reflective spherical markers moving within their operative volume. Specifically, each retro-reflective spherical marker is tracked with a submillimeter accuracy in position.…”

Section: Ground-based Experimental Setupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Validation of a Deployment Mechanism for Tape-tethered Satellites

Valmorbida

Olivieri

Sarego

et al. 2021

2021 IEEE 8th International Workshop on Metrology for AeroSpace (MetroAeroSpace)

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The number of space debris orbiting our Earth has been continuously increasing since the beginning of the space era. The space community is converging on responsible conducts and self-regulations to address this serious problem that is degrading the near-Earth environment. In this context, green deorbiting technologies and strategies alternative to the traditional chemical propulsion are under investigation, including Electrodynamic Tethers (EDTs) because they are a promising option. To increase EDT technology maturity level, some critical points shall be addressed and experimentally evaluated, including the deployment of tape tethers, to demonstrate their reliability. This paper presents results of an experimental validation of the Deployment Mechanism (DM) proposed for the H2020 FET OPEN Project E.T.PACK -Electrodynamic Tether Technology for Passive Consumable-less Deorbit Kit. We developed a mockup that hosts the DM and other elements that are on board the tip mass of a tethered system, using off-the-shelf components. The DM is tested for the first part of the tether deployment maneuver employing the SPARTANS facility of the University of Padova. This facility includes a Testing Table where the mock-up can move with almost no friction and a Motion Capture system that provides an accurate estimation of the mock-up motion during this first part of the tether deployment maneuver.

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SPARTANS - A cooperating spacecraft testbed for autonomous proximity operations experiments

Cited by 9 publications

References 7 publications

Test of Tethered Deorbiting of Space Debris

Test of Tethered Deorbiting of Space Debris

Validation of enabling technologies for deorbiting devices based on electrodynamic tethers

Experimental Validation of a Deployment Mechanism for Tape-tethered Satellites

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