In-orbit demonstration of rendezvous laser radar for unmanned autonomous rendezvous docking

Author

Mokuno, Masaaki ; Kawano, Isao ; Suzuki, Takashi

Author_Institution

Satellite Applications Center, JAXA, Tsukuba, Japan

Volume

40

Issue

2

fYear

2004

fDate

4/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

617

Lastpage

626

Abstract

The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) performed unmanned autonomous rendezvous docking (RVD) experiments using the Engineering Test Satellite VII (ETS-VII) in 1998 and 1999. In these experiments, a rendezvous laser radar (RVR) was used as the primary navigation sensor during the final approach phase (relative distances from 500 m to 2 m). The RVR functioned properly, and its characteristics, which are measurement accuracy, optical propagation, and acquisition/tracking, satisfied the requirements. The experimental results show that RVR is effective for autonomous rendezvous docking.

Keywords

aerospace control; artificial satellites; motion control; navigation; optical radar; remotely operated vehicles; Engineering Test Satellite VFI; National Space Development Agency of Japan; acquisition; in-orbit demonstration; measurement accuracy; navigation sensor; optical propagation; rendezvous laser radar; tracking; unmanned autonomous rendezvous docking; Aerospace testing; Aircraft manufacture; Extraterrestrial measurements; Laser radar; Mars; Radar measurements; Satellite navigation systems; Sensor systems; Space vehicles; Spaceborne radar;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9251

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TAES.2004.1310009

Filename

1310009