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Miniature Robotic Spacecraft for Inspecting Other SpacecraftA report discusses the Miniature Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic Camera (Mini AERCam)-- a compact robotic spacecraft intended to be released from a larger spacecraft for exterior visual inspection of the larger spacecraft. The Mini AERCam is a successor to the AERCam Sprint -- a prior miniature robotic inspection spacecraft that was demonstrated in a space-shuttle flight experiment in 1997. The prototype of the Mini AERCam is a demonstration unit having approximately the form and function of a flight system. The Mini AERCam is approximately spherical with a diameter of about 7.5 in. (.19 cm) and a weight of about 10 lb (.4.5 kg), yet it has significant additional capabilities, relative to the 14-in. (36-cm), 35-lb (16-kg) AERCam Sprint. The Mini AERCam includes miniaturized avionics, instrumentation, communications, navigation, imaging, power, and propulsion subsystems, including two digital video cameras and a high-resolution still camera. The Mini AERCam is designed for either remote piloting or supervised autonomous operations, including station keeping and point-to-point maneuvering. The prototype has been tested on an air-bearing table and in a hardware-in-the-loop orbital simulation of the dynamics of maneuvering in proximity to the International Space Station.
Document ID
20110016730
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Other - NASA Tech Brief
External Source(s)
http://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/1554
Authors
Fredrickson, Steven (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Abbott, Larry (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Duran, Steve (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Goode, Robert (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Howard, Nathan (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Jochim, David (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Rickman, Steve (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Straube, Tim (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Studak, Bill (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Wagenknecht, Jennifer (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Lemke, Matthew (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Wade, Randall (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Wheeler, Scott (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Baggerman, Clinton (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: NASA Tech Briefs, February 2004
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Report/Patent Number
MSC-23669
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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IDRelationTitle20110016725Collected WorksNASA Tech Briefs, February 2004
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