All devices designed to be used in space must be thoroughly tested in relevant conditions.
For several classes of devices the reduced gravity conditions are the key factor. In early …

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation and test has been an essential part in the development of
spacecraft formation flight, rendezvous, capture/docking, and spacecraft robotics systems …

Manipulator mounted on an unmanned satellite could be used for performing orbital capture
maneuver in order to repair satellites or remove space debris from orbit. Use of manipulators …

LiveScan3D is a free, open source system for live, 3D data acquisition using multiple Kinect
v2 sensors. It allows the user to place any number of sensors in any physical configuration …

A set of laboratory experiments are conducted to demonstrate the autonomous capture of a
simulated resident space object by a simulated spacecraft equipped with a robotic …

Robotic on-orbit servicing presents the opportunity for repairing and refueling satellites and
deorbiting space objects. Performing such tasks is challenging because they must be done …

Microgravity is the aspect of space environment that is important for robotic technologies.
One possible approach to simulate microgravity conditions on Earth is to use planar air …

During orbital rendezvous, the spacecraft typically approach in the same orbital plane, and
the phase of the orbit eventually aligns. Potential rendezvous and docking missions need to …

Unmanned manipulator-equipped satellite could perform on-orbit servicing mission or could
be used to remove large space debris from orbit. Planning a manipulator trajectory that will …

The Small Satellite Dynamics Testbed (SSDT) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory offers
infrastructure that supports small satellite guidance and control testing in a relevant …