Orbital Express

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Orbital Express: ASTRO and NEXTSat

Orbital Express is a space mission managed by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and a team led by engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The Orbital Express program is aimed at developing "a safe and cost-effective approach to autonomously service satellites in orbit."^[1] The system consists of the Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations (ASTRO) vehicle, and a prototype modular next-generation serviceable satellite (NEXTSat). The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 8, 2007, aboard an Atlas V expendable launch vehicle.^[2]^[3] The launch was part of the United States Air Force Space Test Program STP-1 mission.^[4]

[edit] Program management and contractors

The Orbital Express program is managed by the Tactical Technology Office (TTO), one of the six technical offices in DARPA.^[5] TTO programs include both "Aerospace Systems" such as Orbital Express, and "Tactical Multipliers" such as the "Magneto Hydrodynamic Explosive Munition (MAHEM) program".^[6] ASTRO was developed by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and NEXTSat was developed by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.. NASA's involvement is through the Automated Systems and Automated Rendezvous and Docking Division of the Engineering Directorate at MSFC. The MSFC Engineering Directorate also manages the Advanced Video Guidance System (AVGS) for Orbital Express project.^[7]

[edit] Goals

Orbital Express: ASTRO and NEXTSat

The project aims to demonstrate several satellite servicing operations and technologies including Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Station Keeping, Capture, Docking, Fluid (Hydrazine) Transfer, and ORU (Orbit Replaceable Unit) Transfer.