Prerequisites and Operational Modes for on Orbit Servicing

The increasing number of launched satellites per year calls for solutions to keep free operational space for telecommunication systems in GEO, as well as to avoid the endangering of space systems in LEO and of the public living on Earth. Malfunctions of satellite sub-systems like solar generators, control systems, or thrusters cannot be avoided. Therefore, on-orbit servicing (OOS) will be a mandatory and challenging topic for space robotics in the near future. The outcome of national German projects like ROTEX, ESS and GETEX/ETS-VII represent a know-how which can be directly applied for the development of OOS robotics systems. The recently started national project ROKVISS already provides the necessary space-qualified hardware as well as the very powerful tele-presence operational mode. The space robotics mission TECSAS (Technology Satellite for Demonstration and Verification of Space Systems), is a very good opportunity to demonstrate and verify satellite capturing strategies. The first business case for on-orbit servicing will hopefully become reality within the next few years. Orbital Recovery Ltd. has initiated its Spacecraft Life Extension System (SLES). SLES will operate as an orbital tugboat, supplying the propulsion, navigation and guidance to keep a telecommunications satellite in its dedicated orbital slot for several additional years.