Applications for In-Space Assembly and Servicing for Future Great Observatories
Full day workshop at IEEE Space Mission Challenges for Information Technology 2023
Pasadena, CA, USA - Tuesday 18 July 2023
California institute of Technology
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Call for Posters
We welcome posters to be showcased during the workshop (Max size is A0). The posters should be single-page and on a topic relevant to robotic satellite servicing and in-space assembly.
Please send your posters to nikos.mavrakis@jpl.nasa.gov by July 15th 2023.
About the Workshop
The successful launch and first images of the James Webb Space Telescope have introduced the new era of Great Observatories for astronomy. The proposed Next Great Observatories will be orbiting the L2 Lagrange point of the Earth-Sun system, creating new challenges for any potential servicing missions. In-space satellite servicing and structure assembly are two emerging fields in space exploration. These applications come with novel challenges in spacecraft design, engineering, and operations. Of particular interest are the challenges posed related to AI, robotics, and autonomy. The need for increased autonomy requires increased capabilities in robotic sensing and processing, and especially machine vision and AI techniques. The theme of this Mini-Workshop is to present the novel challenges on in-space servicing and assembly of the Next Great Observatories, as well as identify the related hardware and software considerations for addressing them and integrating them in future missions. The goal of this workshop is to make the general audience aware of the need, current capabilities and gaps in the roadmap for software and hardware systems directly applicable for in-space servicing and assembly. The workshop will be broken up into two sessions: Morning Session – Agency Level In-space Assembly and Servicing Roadmap followed by speakers. The Afternoon session will start off with a panel discussion on challenges that need to be addressed for in-space servicing of the next great telescope followed by speakers dedicated to hardware challenges
Objectives
The objectives of this workshop are:
To present roadmaps for future in-orbit servicing missions of the next Great Observatories
To define the challenges for such servicing missions
To present the current capabilities and applications in observatory servicing
To bring together experts and interested audience from government organizations, industry, and academia
Invited Speakers
Bo Naasz (NASA HQ) - “In Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing Current Status and Envisioned Future”
Abstract: For several decades, NASA has employed in-space systems to enhance the performance and extend the useful life of operational orbital assets. In at least one case, an operational mission was not only enhanced, but enabled – the International Space Station was made possible by crewed and robotic in-space assembly and continues to support installation and operation of new science and technology payloads. In several cases (Hubble Space Telescope, Intelsat 401, Westar and Palapa), major operational assets were rescued or repaired soon after launch when otherwise mission-ending anomalies occurred or were detected. In addition to the original rescue, Hubble was upgraded four times, enabling high-demand, world class science over four decades. More recently, two Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicles have captured two Intelsat spacecraft near the end of their life and fuel capacity, to take over maneuvering duties. Despite these recent operational achievements, and except for large human exploration vehicles and large space telescopes, space architects rarely consider in-orbit servicing and assembly capabilities in their future planning. Technologies such as multi-launch mission architectures (and rendezvous and proximity operations systems), docking systems, external robotics, advanced tools, modular systems and structures, and fluid transfer systems are available today to support these missions. In-space manufacturing will soon be operational to enable resilient missions that recover from on-orbit failures and expand the utilization of space. We envision a future that includes these capabilities, and discuss the cultural, engineering, and technological challenges to achieving this vision. We discuss the vision and the status of the space industry’s slow but steady march to widespread operational use of in space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing.
Brian Roberts (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) - “Demonstrating In-Space Assembly and Servicing Technologies on the Ground and In Space.”
Abstract: Next generation space science missions can utilize in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) to enable and enhance the architectures needed to answer the key scientific questions of the future. This talk will summarize the work NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, in partnership with our government, industry, academic, and international partners, is doing to advance some of the necessary ISAM technologies needed for these missions. Software and hardware-in-the-loop simulations on the ground evaluate designs and prepare for and support on-orbit operations. Space-based demonstrations are conducted as part of the Robotic Refueling Mission and Raven on the International Space Station, as well as the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing-1 mission in Low Earth Orbit. An overview of these simulations and demonstrations will be discussed as part of the presentation along with some of the lessons learned.
Aki Roberge (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) - “In-Space Servicing as a Scientific Capability”
Abstract: As every Hubble-hugger knows, the ability to service that space observatory made it into a multi-generational telescope, with the longevity of major mountaintop observatories on the ground. But it was the ability to replace science instruments with new ones incorporating more capable designs and technologies that really kept Hubble on the cutting edge of astrophysics and planetary science for over three decades. The observatory was transformed with every servicing mission and Hubble today studies objects that weren’t even known to exist when the telescope was launched. Arguably, in-space servicing and upgrading is a scientific capability in its own right, one which allows us to re-invent a mission after design and launch. NASA has embraced this philosophy for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, the future large space telescope recommended by the National Academies’ Astro2020 Decadal Survey. Furthermore, we may think about going beyond Hubble-style servicing into new mission development approaches that take advantage of in-space assembly and manufacturing. In this talk, I’ll give a recap of Hubble servicing and highlight the new science enabled after each servicing mission, then move on to opportunities and challenges for servicing Habitable Worlds Observatory. Finally, I’ll briefly discuss ideas for using in-space assembly and/or manufacturing to enable other transformative science missions.
Rudranaryan Mukherjee (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory) - "Architectural Considerations for Servicing the Habitable Worlds Observatory”
Abstract: There are ongoing efforts to develop plans for launching and operating the Habitable Worlds Observatory approximately two decades from now. There is a desire to utilize emerging commercial servicing capabilities to robotically service and maintain the observatory. However, there currently are significant architectural questions regarding how the observatory should be built to facilitate servicing and how it can be effectively serviced. While engineering expertise and judgment will play a crucial role in making these decisions, current projections about future technological advancements may also impact these choices. There is a risk that the uncertainty surrounding the maturity of these technologies could lead to either exaggerated or underestimated claims about their impact. Hence, one perspective suggests that it could be advantageous to draw upon the experiences gained from the James Webb Space Telescope mission and make minimal modifications to its architecture when considering future servicing options. Conversely, the NASA In-space Assembled Telescope (ISAT) study suggests a contrasting approach to the observatory's architecture, emphasizing a more granular architecture by relying heavily on in-space robotic assembly. This presentation will introduce architectural aspects that seek to strike a balance between the projected servicing and assembly capabilities while considering the heritage of JWST, in order to address the unique challenges of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.
Julie Van Campen (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) - “Possibilities and challenges for forging a path to serviceable observatories at L2”
Abstract: Habitable worlds Observatory - NASA's response to the 2020 decadal survey calling for a 6 m optical/UV/IR telescope to search for habitable exoplanets and to launch in the early 2040s. Astrophysics Division Chief, Dr. Mark Clampin, has laid out key tenants for success in developing HWO. He states that a key aspect to ensuring funding and science performance of this future Great Observatory is on-orbit serviceability. Perhaps the HWO could be much like a "mountain top" Observatory, where the fundamental structure is in place for decades of life with expendable and upgradable systems. Upgrades to systems can allow for extended life in the harsh environment of space and allow for a continued science relevancy. But, serviceability must also serve the here and now, enabling ground assembly, test and repair to achieve greater pre-launch efficiencies. What are the unique needs of servicing Great Observatories at L2? This talk will present possibilities and challenges for forging a path to serviceable observatories at L2.
John Lymer (MDA) - “Increasing Mission Success and Service Life through Robotic Servicing”
Abstract: The promise of recoverable missions, increased performance through upgrades, and lengthened service life through in-flight servicing has been proven on the Hubble Space Telescope and the International Space Station. In both cases, crew and robotics have recovered the mission from failures, improved performance and enabled a 30+ year productive mission life. Robots played a small but critical part in the Hubble servicing missions but their use and operational maturity has grown significantly over the life of the ISS. Safely operated by personnel on the ground, all ISS dexterous servicing operations are performed in a supervised autonomous fashion, including ‘unprepared’ servicing tasks such refueling with legacy fill/drain valves and mating 38999 power and data connectors. This briefing illustrates the maturation of servicing robotic operations beginning with Hubble, through ISS and Orbital Express, and looking ahead to Gateway. It provides examples of the servicing capabilities available to Observatory designers that deliver a reliable method for recovering from surprises, lengthening productive life and opportunistically increasing performance.
Victor Nifo (MDA) - “Utilizing Standardized Interfaces for Servicing Space Missions”
Abstract: The Space Shuttle missions, and the subsequent assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) provide myriad examples and benefits of designing space assets for serviceability. The benefits of serviceability are more easily realized with the use of standard interfaces. Common interfaces on the ISS permit the transfer of critical resources on-orbit, from Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs) comprising power bays, batteries, and instruments, to refueling and free-flyer capture. Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) is an industry-led initiative that identifies and leverages best practices from government and industry to develop standards for In-Space, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). CONFERS Technical Working Groups (CTWGs) identify proven interfaces, the resources transferred at each interface and then develop standards and guidelines for implementation. While heritage interfaces continue to be used on current and future missions, the international collaboration fostered by CONFERS permit the modification and adaptation of such interfaces, given the foundation of knowledge and establishment of standards for flight readiness and mission success. The Next Great Observatory could leverage the commonality and standards developed by CONFERS in order to ensure the science community is a primary benefactor of ISAM advancements.
Program
Workshop Duration: 10:15 – 16:45 (PST)
Session 1: 10:15 – 11:45
10:15 – 10:20 - Brief Introduction on Workshop – Vivek Dwivedi (NASA GSFC)
10:20 – 10:45 – Bo Naasz (NASA HQ) - In Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing Current Status and Envisioned Future
10:45 – 11:10 – Brian Roberts (NASA GSFC) - Robotics Applications and Challenges
11:10 – 11:35 – Aki Roberge (NASA GSFC) - In-Space Servicing as a Scientific Capability
Lunch 11:45 – 13:30
Session 2: 13:30 – 15:30
13:30 – 14:30 – Panel Discussion – Nikos Mavrakis (NASA JPL)
14:30 – 14:55 – Rudranaryan Mukherjee (NASA JPL) - Architectural Considerations for Servicing the Habitable Worlds Observatory
14:55 – 15:20 – Julie Van Campen (NASA GSFC) - Possibilities and challenges for forging a path to serviceable observatories at L2
Break 15:30 – 15:45
Session 3: 15:45 – 16:45 - Brian Roberts (NASA GSFC)
15:45 – 16:10 – John Lymer (MDA) - Increasing Mission Success and Service Life through Robotic Servicing
16:10 – 16:35 – Victor Nifo (MDA) - Utilizing Standardized Interfaces for Servicing Space Missions
16:40 – 16:45 – Ending Remarks
Organizers
Vivek Dwivedi
Vivek Dwivedi
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Nikos Mavrakis
Nikos Mavrakis
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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