Author Topic: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)  (Read 10271 times)

Offline catdlr

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Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) Concept Video

Published on Mar 25, 2016
DARPA’s new Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program seeks to develop technologies that would enable cooperative inspection and servicing in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) and demonstrate those technologies on orbit within the next five years. Under the RSGS vision, that DARPA-developed toolkit module, including hardware and software, would attach to a privately developed spacecraft to create a commercially owned and operated robotic servicing vehicle (RSV) that could make house calls in space. If successful, the effort could radically lower the risk and cost of operating in GEO.



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Offline savuporo

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #1 on: 09/24/2016 01:35 am »
http://sslmda.com/html/pressreleases/pr20160721.html

Quote
PALO ALTO, Calif. – July 21, 2016 — Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, today announced it has received $20.7 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design and build robotic arm flight hardware for the agency’s Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program. SSL is receiving the funds through MDA US Systems, a division of MDA managed by SSL, and is working with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), which is managing the robotic arm contract for the RSGS program. 

The contract is for two complete robotic arm systems, which would be able to carefully capture and berth with satellites that were not previously designed for docking. The robotic arms would each have multiple joints enabling dexterous movement and could carry and use multiple generic and mission-specific tools. Building on contracts announced in both 2012 and 2013 for prior DARPA research into space robotics, the total contract value awarded now stands at over $40 million, and could grow further if all remaining options are exercised. 
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Offline synchrotron

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #3 on: 01/27/2017 02:10 pm »
DARPA satellite-servicing project comes under congressional fire
http://spacenews.com/darpa-satellite-servicing-project-comes-under-congressional-fire/


Offline Hop_David

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #4 on: 02/05/2017 10:37 am »
DARPA satellite-servicing project comes under congressional fire
http://spacenews.com/darpa-satellite-servicing-project-comes-under-congressional-fire/


Here's Dennis Wingo's take on Bridenstine vs DARPA on orbital servicing bots.

How many sats can a bot rendezvous with? Each rendezvous takes some delta V and a bot has constraints on how much propellent it can carry.

If we had an extra-terrestrial propellent source, orbital servicing bots would be more interesting. They could rendezvous with an unlimited number of sats. Two possible sources of extra-terrestrial propellent are the lunar poles and near earth carbonaceous ivunas.

Such bots are potential anti sat weapons. Unlike the kinetic anti-sat weapon the Chinese tested, they wouldn't generate a huge amount of orbital debris. They could turn an enemy asset into a friendly asset.
« Last Edit: 02/05/2017 10:39 am by Hop_David »

Offline savuporo

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #5 on: 02/05/2017 04:52 pm »
If we had an extra-terrestrial propellent source, orbital servicing bots would be more interesting. They could rendezvous with an unlimited number of sats. Two possible sources of extra-terrestrial propellent are the lunar poles and near earth carbonaceous ivunas.
Sat's are fueled with hydrazine and xenon.

You could resupply a RSGS-like vehicle with fairly cheap launches, effectively an upper stage carrying a large hydrazine tank to GEO. Briz-M would do it.


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Offline Darkseraph

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #7 on: 02/10/2017 01:19 pm »
Orbital servicing is still a very interesting technology without extraterrestrial propellant factories. The ability to repair faults in multi-million dollar spacecraft rather than leaving them stranded and useless would be of interest to all kinds of stakeholders be it military, space science or commercial. It even opens up the potential to upgrade future satellites over their lifecycle as technology improves rather than wait to replace the whole outdated system every 15-20 years. Robotic servicing is probably a more near term capability than the expensive prospect of building propellant factories on the Moon or asteroids. I fully expect resupply from Earth along with robotic repair to happen first.
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Offline TrevorMonty

Robotic servicing is first small step to large scale space industry.
 1) service, refuel using earth supplied parts/fuel.
2) in orbit Assembly, eg attach solar panels and antenna dish.
3) in orbit manufacturing (3d print)of simple structures. eg booms for payloads, large antenna dishes.
4) satellites start switching to H2O as fuel as now readily available in orbit, earth supplied.
5) Mining companies now have market in GEO for water and 3D printer feed stock.
6) GEO transport system, using space tugs. Enables satellites to become simpler as LV/ tugs deliver direct to GEO.
7) Large GEO platforms appear hosting multiple payloads. Traditional satellite companies only need to provide payload.
8) with raw materials and manufacturing available larger structures become possible. Telescopes, space solar power satellites.
9) large scale manufacturing requires humans onsite resulting in space stations. These can be partially construction from materials sourced in space.

It is space solar power that will drive manufacturing on massive scale. 10s of Terawatt stations are needed to meet earth energy demands.

Offline synchrotron

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #9 on: 03/23/2017 08:38 pm »
A new lawsuit - but in the other direction:

http://spacenews.com/ssl-sues-orbital-atk-over-confidential-data-breach/

Unfortunately these lawsuits will set both parties back.

Offline synchrotron

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #10 on: 04/18/2017 06:57 pm »
An Op-Ed from Michael Griffin in which he pushes back on the Orbital ATK lawsuit:

http://spacenews.com/op-ed-winning-the-battle-in-space-in-defense-of-darpas-robotic-servicing-of-geosynchronous-satellites-program/

Note that Mike used to work for Orbital Sciences Corp. earlier in his career.

Offline synchrotron

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #11 on: 05/19/2017 05:10 pm »
Bradford Tousley, the director of the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA, discusses his agency's agreement with SSL to work on a satellite servicing program: 


Offline john smith 19

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #13 on: 07/19/2017 11:56 am »
New development: the Orbital-ATK lawsuit has been dismissed by the court:
https://www.spaceintelreport.com/district-court-dismisses-orbital-atk-protest-darpa-satellite-servicing-program/
TBF the situation the report described does seem to be unfair, with DARPA handing over the rights of the hardware for SSL to use as they see fit. Is that SOP for DARPA contracts?

OTOH Orbital's attempt to go after the whole programme seemed unwise, not to mention playing the "They're not really American" card, which usually suggests you've run out of any sort of convincing argument.

In any case is this the first, last or only time that this policy has been broken? I thinking buying COTS, or getting a supplier of COTS hardware to modify it a bit, has been USG policy for decades, yet I believe it's been regularly simply ignored, at least regarding space systems.


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Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #14 on: 05/04/2018 02:56 pm »
Bump for a nifty brief to the NASA Future In-Space Operations (FISO):

http://fiso.spiritastro.net/telecon/Roesler_5-2-18/

Offline TrevorMonty



Here is another couple of related links. .

https://spaceq.ca/mda-marketing-new-robotic-kits-for-on-orbit-servicing/

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/irma/nasas-dragonfly-project-demonstrates-robotic-satellite-assembly-critical-to-future-space.html

Dragonfly concept of using robotic arm for self assembly of antenna dishes and upgrades could also be used for minor repair and inspections. NB a robotic arm is not limited to operating from one point, the MDA/SSL arm for Nanoracks self assembly space station, operates like catapillar and moves from one anchor point to another.

Offline Hop_David

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #16 on: 05/28/2018 01:36 am »
You could resupply a RSGS-like vehicle with fairly cheap launches, effectively an upper stage carrying a large hydrazine tank to GEO. Briz-M would do it.

I am skeptical. A few questions:

What is mass of RSGS-like vehicle? Remember that it will likely carry parts and propellent for the sats.

What is exhaust velocity of hydrazine?

What delta V budget does the RSGS vehicle need for multiple sat rendezvous? My offhand guess is around .2 or .15 km/s per rendezvous.

What is cost per kilogram for sending your large hydrazine tank to GEO?

Online gongora

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #17 on: 01/30/2019 12:13 pm »
Maxar Technologies' SSL Terminates its Participation in DARPA's Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites Program

January 30, 2019
PALO ALTO, CA, Jan. 30, 2019 /CNW/ - SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), and a leading provider of innovative satellites and spacecraft systems, today announced it has exercised its right to terminate participation in the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program, a public-private partnership with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), citing a need to focus its resources on ensuring optimal returns when weighed against other capital priorities, such as WorldView Legion. SSL remains unwavering in its commitment to its customers on all existing contracts.

SSL has notified DARPA that it has decided to discontinue its participation in RSGS, an option available at this time under the terms of the Other Transaction Agreement between SSL and DARPA. This decision is consistent with Maxar's commitment to disciplined prioritization of capital. Maxar remains confident in the potential of the on-orbit servicing market and the value of public private partnerships. SSL will also be terminating its associated contract with Space Infrastructure Services LLC, which SSL was awarded in June 2017 to develop a servicing spacecraft vehicle for the RSGS program.

Signed in 2017, the Other Transaction Agreement called for DARPA to develop the dexterous robotic payload and provide a government-funded launch. SSL was responsible for funding the development of the spacecraft bus and integrating the resulting robotic servicing spacecraft with the launch vehicle, as well as providing operations staff over the full mission duration.

"While disappointed that we are unable to find an economically viable path to support RSGS and meet our return criteria, we are dedicated to partnering with the U.S. government to realize the full potential of in-space robotic servicing of spacecraft, as well as assembly and manufacturing in space," said Richard White, President of SSL Government Systems. "At Maxar, we are uniquely positioned to leverage technology and expertise from across our businesses to accelerate innovation for the new space economy. We are proud of our leadership in space robotics, including our pioneering work in NASA's Restore-L mission to refuel LANDSAT-7, and we will continue to pursue leading-edge opportunities."

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS)
« Reply #18 on: 01/30/2019 04:22 pm »
Sad, but considering that Maxar is trying to unload its Geo satellite side of business, and loss of Worldview-4 not exactly unexpected

https://spacenews.com/maxar-trying-to-sell-geo-business-as-defective-components-compound-troubles/

Can the DARPA program continue with a new satellite vendor, since the payload was DARPA developed?
« Last Edit: 01/30/2019 04:23 pm by Ronsmytheiii »

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