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SPHERES National Lab FacilitySPHERES is a facility of the ISS National Laboratory with three IVA nano-satellites designed and delivered by MIT to research estimation, control, and autonomy algorithms. Since Fall 2010, The SPHERES system is now operationally supported and managed by NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). A SPHERES Program Office was established and is located at NASA Ames Research Center. The SPHERES Program Office coordinates all SPHERES related research and STEM activities on-board the International Space Station (ISS), as well as, current and future payload development. By working aboard ISS under crew supervision, it provides a risk tolerant Test-bed Environment for Distributed Satellite Free-flying Control Algorithms. If anything goes wrong, reset and try again! NASA has made the capability available to other U.S. government agencies, schools, commercial companies and students to expand the pool of ideas for how to test and use these bowling ball-sized droids. For many of the researchers, SPHERES offers the only opportunity to do affordable on-orbit characterization of their technology in the microgravity environment. Future utilization of SPHERES as a facility will grow its capabilities as a platform for science, technology development, and education.
Document ID
20150002695
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Benavides, Jose
(SGT, Inc. Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
March 10, 2015
Publication Date
July 16, 2014
Subject Category
Launch Vehicles And Launch Operations
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN16369
Meeting Information
Meeting: NASA In-Space Inspection Technology Workshop (ISIW 2014)
Location: Houston, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: July 15, 2014
End Date: July 16, 2014
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA14AA60C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Free Flyer
ISS
Small Satellites
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