NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

For release: 09/21/04

Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART) animation

This animation shows the Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART), a flight demonstrator that provides a key step in establishing autonomous rendezvous capabilities for the U.S. space program. This animation represents the DART spacecraft being launched on a Pegasus vehicle from its Stargazer L-1011 aircraft. The Pegasus vehicle will be released with the DART spacecraft over the Pacific Ocean, then boosted into a polar orbit around the Earth to rendezvous with the target satellite, the Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Sight Communications (MUBLCOM) satellite. Once DART reaches the MUBLCOM satellite, it will perform several autonomous rendezvous and close proximity operations, such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation data provided by the Advanced Video Guidance Sensor onboard DART and Global Positioning System (GPS)-based information. The Autonomous Rendezvous and Proximity Operations software on DART will test additional algorithms by calculating and executing collision avoidance maneuvers and circumnavigation - navigating around the MUBLCOM satellite. To conclude the mission, DART will fly away from the MUBLCOM satellite. The mission will be accomplished in approximately 24 hours without human intervention. (NASA) QuickTime animation, 7.25 MB

 

Contact Kim Newton Media Relations Dept. Marshall Space Flight Ctr. (256) 544-0034

E-mail Get releases sent directly to you! Contact: Betty Humphery