End-to-end simulation and verification of GNC and robotic systems considering both space segment and ground segment

Abstract

In the framework of a project called on-orbit servicing end-to-end simulation, the final approach and capture of a tumbling client satellite in an on-orbit servicing mission are simulated. The necessary components are developed and the entire end-to-end chain is tested and verified. This involves both on-board and on-ground systems. The space segment comprises a passive client satellite, and an active service satellite with its rendezvous and berthing payload. The space segment is simulated using a software satellite simulator and two robotic, hardware-in-the-loop test beds, the European Proximity Operations Simulator (EPOS) 2.0 and the OOS-Sim. The ground segment is established as for a real servicing mission, such that realistic operations can be performed from the different consoles in the control room. During the simulation of the telerobotic operation, it is important to provide a realistic communication environment with different parameters like they occur in the real world (realistic delay and jitter, for example). This paper is based on a presentation at the 10th International ESA Conference on Guidance, Navigation and Control Systems - 29 May-2 June 2017 - Salzburg - Austria.