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Meeting	ACGS Committee Meeting 92 - Dayton - October 2003
Agenda Location	5 SUBCOMMITTEE B – MISSILES AND SPACE VEHICLES 5.1 Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking
Title	Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking
Presenter	Doug Zimpfer
Affiliation	Draper Laboratory
Available Downloads*	none
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Abstract	To meet cost and safety objectives, space missions that involve proximity operations between two vehicles require a high level of autonomy to successfully complete their missions. The need for autonomy is primarily driven by the need to conduct complex operations outside of communication windows, and the communication time delays inherent in space missions. Autonomy also supports the goals of both NASA and the DOD to make space operations more routine, and lower operational costs by reducing the requirement for ground personnel. NASA and the DoD have several programs underway that require a much higher level of autonomy for space vehicles. NASA’s Space Launch Initiative (SLI) and Orbital Space Plane programs have ambitious goals of reducing costs below those for the Shuttle and improving safety beyond the Shuttle. DARPA has recently begun its Orbital Express Program to demonstrate key technologies to make satellite servicing routine. Additionally, other government programs are investigating the applications of microsats for various military missions. A common element in space operations for many NASA and DOD missions is the ability to rendezvous, inspect and/or dock with another spacecraft. For DARPA, this is required to service or refuel military satellites, while for NASA, this is needed to meet the primary OSP design reference mission of uncrewed delivery of a rescue vehicle to the International Space Station and unmanned resupply for the Alternate Access to Station Program. A common aspect for each of these programs is autonomous rendezvous, inspection and docking. An Autonomous Mission Manager that provides highly autonomous planning, execution and monitoring of the rendezvous, inspection and docking operations is required to meet the ambitious program goals. This paper provides an overview of autonomous rendezvous and docking and an Autonomous Mission Manager (AMM) design being incorporated into many development and technology programs. The AMM provides a highly scalable level of autonomous operations, ranging from automatic execution of ground-derived plans to highly autonomous on-board planning to meet ground developed mission goals. The AMM provides the capability to automatically execute the plans and monitor the system performance. In the event of system dispersions or failures the AMM can modify plans or abort to assure overall system safety. This paper describes the design and functionality of Draper’s AMM framework, presents concept of operations associated with the use of the AMM, and overviews some of the on-going programs.