SPHERE, Formation flight experiments on ISS Options

[Bob Shaw]

The MIT Space Systems Laboratory is developing the SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold Engage and Reorient Experimental Satellites) formation flight testbed to provide the Air Force and NASA with a long term, replenishable, and upgradable testbed for the validation of high risk metrology, control, and autonomy technologies. The technologies are critical to the operation of distributed satellite and docking missions such as Terrestrial Planet Finder and Orbital Express.

The first batch of test 'vehicles' are aboard the latest Progress craft to reach the ISS - more will follow on the next Shuttle flight.

http://ssl.mit.edu/spheres/

Bob Shaw