Title:
XSS-10 Mission Results and Lessons Learned
XSS-10 Mission Results and Lessons Learned
Author(s)
Davis, Thomas M.
Melanson, David
Melanson, David
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Collections
Supplementary to
Permanent Link
Abstract
The Air Force Research Laboratory established the Micro-Satellite Technology Development Program
(XSS series of flight demonstrations) to leverage micro-satellite technologies with the aim of providing
solutions to Air Force future space mission capabilities. XSS-10 was the first in this series and was
intended to demonstrate key operational concepts and technologies relating to close-in satellite inspection
operations. The XSS-10 program began in December 1997 and launched from Cape Canaveral on 29
January 2003 attached to the second stage of a Delta II. Eleven orbits later the XSS-10 micro-sat ejected
from the orbiting Delta second stage and successfully completed a brief series of semi-autonomous
maneuver and inspection operations using the Delta second stage as the RSO. The mission objectives of
XSS-10 were to demonstrate autonomous navigation, proximity operations, and inspection of a Resident
Space Object (RSO). XSS-10, a 31 kilogram micro-satellite launched as a secondary on a Delta II
expendable launch vehicle carrying a GPS satellite. XSS-10 was equipped with a visible camera, a star
sensor, GPS receiver and a mini SGLS system, all specially built for this program. In addition, a visible
camera was also mounted on the second stage to observe the release of the microsatellite and observe its
maneuvers. The XSS-10 micro satellite was released from the Delta II second stage after the GPS satellite
was released. Operating autonomously, on a preplanned course, XSS-10 performed its mission of
navigating around the Delta II second stage. Autonomously navigating around the second stage, at
preplanned positions, the microsatellite took images of the second stage and sent them back in real time.
During these demonstrations, XSS-10 demonstrated responsive checkout of the microsatellite and all of
its subsystems, autonomous navigation on a preplanned course and a variety of algorithms and mission
operations that are critical for future mission operations. This paper will discuss the results of the mission
and post mission analysis of the XSS-10 space flight.
Sponsor
AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee ; AIAA Space Transportation Systems Technical Committee ; Space Technology Advanced Research Center
Date Issued
2005-11-10
Extent
522708 bytes
1905 bytes
522708 bytes
1905 bytes
522708 bytes
Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Presentation