Orbital Express program summary and mission overview

Robert B. Friend

doi:10.1117/12.783792

15 April 2008 Orbital Express program summary and mission overview

Robert B. Friend

Proceedings Volume 6958, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications II; 695803 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.783792
Event: SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 2008, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

The Orbital Express program was created to prove that the technical obstacles to satellite servicing were surmountable- to "take the technical excuse off the table" as it were. This mission demonstrated short range and long range autonomous rendezvous, capture and berthing, on-orbit electronics upgrades, on-orbit refueling, and autonomous fly-around visual inspection using a demonstration client satellite. The Orbital Express spacecraft were launched March 8, 2007 and completed their mission on July 22, 2007. 100% of mission success criteria and objectives were achieved. This paper describes, at a high level, the program goals and objectives, key milestones & events, accomplishments, and some of the obstacles that were overcome during the mission.

Citation Download Citation

Robert B. Friend "Orbital Express program summary and mission overview", Proc. SPIE 6958, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications II, 695803 (15 April 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.783792

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