Air Force print news (Nov. 3, 2005): cutting-edge micro-satellite achieves milestones.

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- A 220-pound micro-satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate recently accomplished significant mission milestones when it rendezvoused with the upper stage of a Minotaur I launch vehicle at distances between 1.5 kilometers and 500 meters.

The Air Force has used the Experimental Satellite System-11 micro-satellite, commonly referred to as XSS-11, to investigate a variety of prospective space applications, including servicing, repair, and resupply.

"XSS-11 is a demonstration in space rendezvous and proximity operations," said Harold Baker, XSS-11 program manager. "The spacecraft also has an onboard rendezvous and proximity operations planner in the avionics to aid in developing autonomous operations for future concepts and missions."

Launched in April 2005 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., XSS-11 has completed more than 75 natural-motion circumnavigations of the expended Minotaur I rocket body. During its projected 12- to 18-month flight, the spacecraft will conduct rendezvous and proximity maneuvers with several U.S.-owned dead or inactive space objects near its orbit. It will also demonstrate more autonomy as the project continues.

"The micro-satellite is performing better than expected," Baker said. "Fuel consumption and efficiency are good, and we expect to be operational for another year. In addition, we have had no significant technical glitches and no major anomalies."

Managing and monitoring the micro-satellite's progress has been the focus of the flight control team composed of people from both the Space Vehicles Directorate and the Space and Missile Systems Center's Detachment 12, also located at Kirtland.

Staffing, however, has been reduced by 50 percent becaise of the spacecraft's flawless performance, and officials said another decrease is expected in the future as the micro-satellite's demonstration in autonomy advances.

With a projected cost of $82 million, XSS-11 program managers have planned an aggressive, event-driven flight, which could ultimately enhance Air Force Space Command's prospective missions of space servicing and maintenance and space support.

In addition, as a result of its innovative autonomous flight, officials said the XSS-11 mission may reduce the number of people and the amount of equipment needed to operate future space missions.

"The micro-satellite will remain in a systems functional test for the next month or two, as we are still checking out the spacecraft's various components," Baker said. "The whole part of this mission is to be safe. If we hit the resident space object, we fail.

"To date, most other rendezvous experiments have been designed primarily for the purpose of docking and repair missions. They relied heavily on the other object's having guidance and navigation aids as well as docking mechanisms," Baker said. "XSS-11 does not rely on navigation aids from the other resident space objects or docking mechanisms."

Kleiman is with Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, N.M.