RSat Operations

  POSTED ON: Monday, July 15, 2024 12:00 AM by Christine Maceo

RSat is a prototype 3U-CubeSat that demonstrates the use of a small satellite platform for on-orbit survey and repair of conventional spacecraft. Conceived, designed, built and operated by USNA midshipmen, RSat has two robotic arms fitted with claws and end-effector cameras to obtain diagnostic information and perform maneuvers, and is intended to advance the use of robotic assistance on future space missions.  RSat was delivered to NASA on May 17, 2022 and launched on November 7, 2022 from Wallops Island to the International Space Station as a payload in the Microgravity Science Glovebox. The Midshipmen Space Operations (MSOPS) team operated RSat for 50 hours from January-April 2024 in the Space Systems Engineering Lab. RSat successfully completed all planned science objectives as assessed by imaging and downlinks, including: performing diagnostics by inspecting an object and relaying information from the inspection; testing control via 6-degree-of-freedom input by touching and grasping a target; and testing two-arm coordination.

Category: General Interest