Abstract: Autonomous on-orbit servicing of satellites leads to a significant savings in mission life-cycle costs, especially for expensive satellites and for expensive satellite systems composed of many satellites, such as constellations or close formations. The...
Abstract: The ELVIS (Expendable Launch Vehicle with Integrated Spacecraft) concept involves: (1) dropping off the upper stage of the launch vehicle as low as possible, with integral low-thrust propulsion taking the spacecraft to its final orbital destination; (2)...
Abstract: Autonomous navigation and orbit control can provide both significant operations cost reduction and increased mission performance. By controlling the orbit to match a chosen reference, ground operations are significantly reduced and scheduling becomes highly...
Abstract: In general, autonomous rendezvous and docking requires that two spacecraft start at a remote distance (i.e., out of sight of each other), come together into a common orbit, rendezvous, dock, and control the new combined spacecraft in both orbit and attitude....
Abstract: Scorpius® is a family of low cost, expendable launch vehicles under development by Microcosm. The first orbital vehicle in the family is the Sprite Small Launch Vehicle (700 lbs to a 100 NMi circular orbit due East from the launch site), currently scheduled...
Abstract: Microcosm and the Scorpius® Space Launch Company are developing a family of expendable launch vehicles that will provide low-cost, responsive access to space. The Scorpius® family includes single and two-stage suborbital and orbital vehicles with payloads...
Abstract: The Scorpius® vehicle family extends from one and two stage sub-orbital vehicles for target and science applications to small, medium and heavy lift orbital vehicles. These new liquid fueled vehicles have LEO and GTO capabilities. Microcosm, Inc. and...
Wertz. J. January 2002
Abstract: The field of on-orbit servicing of space systems has been studied extensively, and techniques for performing satellite resupply and repair functions have been developed in detail. They are covered extensively in the literature. Based on this background,...
Abstract: Microcosm, under Air Force Research Laboratory (Space Vehicles Directorate) and internal funding, developed and flew the first fully autonomous, on-board orbit determination and in-track and cross-track control system. Results show the technology maintaining...