Application for RSO Automated Proximity Analysis and IMAging (ARAPAJMA): Development of a Nanosat-based Space Situational Awareness Mission

Abstract

ARAPAIMA is a proximity operations mission sponsored by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research(AFOSR) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), to perform the in-orbit demonstration of autonomousproximity operations for visible, infrared, and point cloud generation of resident space objects (RSOs) from ananosat platform. The nanosat is of the 6U CubeSat class, with overall dimensions of 12x24x36cm, a mass of9.78kg, and has been selected as part of AFRLs University NanoSat Program (UNP) Cycle 8. This paper describesthe mission goals, concept of operations, science objectives and subsystem design and selection, with focus given toa detailed mission analysis and the requirements flow-down.By demonstrating robust, affordable, and responsive rendezvous and proximity operations of a nanosat with anuncooperative RSO, successful completion of the ARAPAIMA mission will validate a range of technologies forspace-based space situational awareness (SSA) and debris removal from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In addition, themission will validate a set of key technologies and their integration at system level, such as miniaturizedcommercially available sensors, a miniaturized warm gas propulsion system for CubeSat applications, as well asadvanced relative navigation and proximity operations algorithms implemented on a nanosat.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 05, 2013
Accession Number
AD1034457

Entities

People

  • Ha Y Chang
  • Kristia Harris
  • Michael Mcgruvey
  • Michaella Ryle

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Earth Orbits
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Risk Analysis
  • Satellite Buses
  • Small Satellites
  • Space Debris
  • Space Objects
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • Three Dimensional

Readers

  • Aerospace Research.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects