SPHERES

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The MIT Space Systems Laboratory developed Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) formation flight testbed to provide the Air Force and NASA with a long term, replenishable, and upgradable testbed for the validation of high risk control, metrology, and autonomy technologies. The technologies are critical to the operation of distributed satellite and docking missions such as TechSat21, Starlight, Terrestrial Planet Finder, and Orbital Express.

To approximate the dynamics presented by these missions, the testbed consists of three miniaturized satellites, microsatellites or "spheres," which can control their relative positions and orientations, and is operable on a 2-D laboratory platform, NASA's KC-135, and the International Space Station. The testbed is being developed jointly by the MIT Space Systems Laboratory and Payload Systems, Inc., with funding from the Department of Defense and several NASA centers.

Three SPHERES vehicles will be delivered to the International Space Station. The first vehicle, along with a limited supply of consumables and support equipment, arrived at the station aboard Progress flight ISS-21P, and single-vehicle tests and experiments began on May 18, 2006. The second vehicle arrived with a much larger supply of consumables aboard Space Shuttle flight STS-121. The final vehicle and consumable supply are scheduled to launch to the station on Space Shuttle flight STS-116.