SPHERES
Encyclopedia
The Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellites (SPHERES) experiment is a testbed
consisting of three 8 inches (203.2 mm) miniaturized satellite
s that can operate in a variety of environments, including inside the International Space Station
(ISS). The MIT Space Systems Laboratory developed the experiment to provide the Air Force
and NASA
with a long term, replenishable, and upgradable testbed for formation flight. It will be used to validate 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
. The SPHERES concept was inspired by the Training Remotes from Star Wars
.
. The testbed is being developed jointly by the MIT Space Systems Laboratory and Aurora Flight Sciences (Formerly Payload Systems, inc.), with funding from the Department of Defense
and several NASA centers.
The battery-powered, 8 inches (203.2 mm) satellites fly within the ISS cabin using carbon dioxide to fuel 12 thrusters.
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 were delivered to the station on Space Shuttle flight STS-116
.
On April 27, 2007, ISS Expedition 15
flight engineer Sunita Williams
performed a series of test flights with the satellites.
Testbed
A testbed is a platform for experimentation of large development projects. Testbeds allow for rigorous, transparent, and replicable testing of scientific theories, computational tools, and new technologies.The term is used across many disciplines to describe a development environment that is...
consisting of three 8 inches (203.2 mm) miniaturized satellite
Miniaturized satellite
Miniaturized satellites or small satellites are artificial satellites of unusually low weights and small sizes, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as small satellites, different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass .One reason for miniaturizing...
s that can operate in a variety of environments, including inside the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS). The MIT Space Systems Laboratory developed the experiment to provide the Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
with a long term, replenishable, and upgradable testbed for formation flight. It will be used to validate high risk control, metrology
Metrology
Metrology is the science of measurement. Metrology includes all theoretical and practical aspects of measurement. The word comes from Greek μέτρον , "measure" + "λόγος" , amongst others meaning "speech, oration, discourse, quote, study, calculation, reason"...
, and autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
technologies. The technologies are critical to the operation of distributed satellite and docking missions such as TechSat21, Starlight
Starlight
Starlight refers to the visible radiation emitted by stars other than the Sun.Starlight may also refer to:-Comics:* Starlight , Dr...
, Terrestrial Planet Finder
Terrestrial Planet Finder
The Terrestrial Planet Finder was a proposed project by NASA to construct a system of telescopes for detecting extrasolar terrestrial planets. TPF was postponed several times and finally cancelled...
, and Orbital Express
Orbital Express
thumb|Orbital Express: ASTRO and NEXTSatOrbital Express was a space mission managed by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and a team led by engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center...
. The SPHERES concept was inspired by the Training Remotes from Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
.
Description
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 StationInternational Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
. The testbed is being developed jointly by the MIT Space Systems Laboratory and Aurora Flight Sciences (Formerly Payload Systems, inc.), with funding from the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and several NASA centers.
The battery-powered, 8 inches (203.2 mm) satellites fly within the ISS cabin using carbon dioxide to fuel 12 thrusters.
Timeline
Three SPHERES vehicles were delivered to the International Space Station. The first vehicle, along with a limited supply of consumables and support equipment, arrived at the station aboard ProgressProgress spacecraft
The Progress is a Russian expendable freighter spacecraft. The spacecraft is an unmanned resupply spacecraft during its flight but upon docking with a space station, it allows astronauts inside, hence it is classified manned by the manufacturer. It was derived from the Soyuz spacecraft, and is...
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
Space Shuttle program
NASA's Space Shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System , was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011...
flight STS-121
STS-121
STS-121 was a space shuttle mission to the International Space Station flown by Space Shuttle Discovery. The main purposes of the mission were to test new safety and repair techniques introduced following the Columbia disaster of February 2003 as well as to deliver supplies, equipment and...
. The final vehicle and consumable supply were delivered to the station on Space Shuttle flight STS-116
STS-116
-Crew notes:Originally this mission was to carry the Expedition 8 crew to the ISS. The original crew was to be:-Mission highlights:* The STS-116 mission delivered and attached the International Space Station's third port truss segment, the P5 truss....
.
On April 27, 2007, ISS Expedition 15
Expedition 15
Expedition 15 was the 15th expedition to the International Space Station . Four crew members participated in the expedition, although for most of the expedition's duration only three were on the station at any one time...
flight engineer Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams
Sunita Williams is a United States Naval officer and a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and then joined Expedition 15...
performed a series of test flights with the satellites.
See also
- AERCam SprintAERCam SprintThe Autonomous Extravehicular Activity Robotic Camera Sprint is a NASA experiment to demonstrate the use of a prototype free-flying television camera that could be used for remote inspections of the exterior of the International Space Station....
- Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
- Microgravity
- RoboticsRoboticsRobotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
- Electromagnetic Formation Flight (EMFF)Electromagnetic Formation Flight (EMFF)Electromagnetic Formation Flight investigates the concept of using electromagnets coupled with reaction wheels in place of more traditional propulsion systems to control the positions and attitudes of a number of spacecraft in close proximity...
- Scientific research on the ISSScientific research on the ISSScientific Research on the International Space Station is a collection of experiments that require one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit. The primary fields of research include human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology...