HERMES

On-Orbit Servicing
Optimal System Architecture
enabling an
Optimal deployment path

Charis S. Kosmas

Photo courtecy of cover page picture ESA//ESOC

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 1/39
 Objective

The Project mainly aims at reducing the

operational cost of satellite services
provision for making them available to
larger parts of population especially in
countries with limited economic
resources.
This is possible taking into account the
fact that currently the price elasticity of
demand for satellite services is 5%.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 2/39
 Implementation
strategy
• The Project is focusing on the space segment
and in particular on methods of reducing the
cost of space assets through adaptation,
improvement and optimization of the whole
existing chain of infrastructure currently
needed by the satellites (from launcher, to the
upper stage, to the apogee kick motor, to the
satellite) and by inventing new types of
space vehicles to extend the current space
capabilities.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 3/39
 The problem in
GEO ring: Debris
and revenue loss
• 50 % ( 9 / year commercial s/c) die of
anomalies resulting in creation of space
debris. In-situ Inspection could facilitate fast
analysis of situation/solution =136.5 M€.
• 50 % (9 / year ) die of fuel depletion at the
designed lifetime. Some 3-4 years life
extention would be desirable. Lost
revenue= 9s/c x 30x1.5x0.7 M€=245 M€/y.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 4/39
 Services needed
1
1 Inspection: Of alive satellites to assist
commissioning and characterisation /
callibration. Of sick/dead satellites to
determine status (anomaly resolution).
Of debris to detemine re-orbit feasibility.
2 Transportation: To re-orbit a Client
satellite (CS) at EOL, or re-orbit
apogee-kick-motors after orbit injection.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 5/39
 Services needed
2

3 Refueling: To enable new s/c to be

launched with small fuel supplies (low
manufacturing and launch cost) and let
decision on additional fuel, according to
operational life and health status, to be
taken at later stage.
4 Preventive / recovery maintenance:
To replace outdated / faulty elements ...
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 6/39
 Services needed
3

… to enable the manufacturing of

satellites that are capable to capitalize
faster on technology developments.
5 Assembly in space of large structures
to enable availability of structures that
normaly do not fit in an efficient manner
under the fairing constraints / launch
environment (high g, accoustic vibr.).
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 7/39
 Innovative System
Architecture
• Five synergetic elements:
– The Utility Base (UB)
– The Utility Agent (UA)
– The Escort Agent (EA)
– The Engine Module (EM)
– A new family of apogee kick motors
• And maximum utilization of existing
satellite assets:
– Use of up-link of existing CS to dock.
– Use Telecommand link to control EM.

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 8/39
 New concepts.
Breakthrough
efficient solutions
Patent Pending concepts:
• for docking process simplification
(apparatus and method)
• for control channel for Engine Module
• for a capturing apparatus
• for a heavy duty double-functional
reusable apogee-kick-motor (AKM).
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 9/39
 The Utility Base
(UB)
• Size: Large object in comparison to
current satellites (mothership).
• Function: Resource & Spares provider
and resting place to UA, EM, EA (Fuel,
pressurant gas, High bandwidth link).
• Positioning: Station keeping in a busy
area at the GEO Ring level with some
inclination (TBD) for optimal traffic.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 10/39
 The Utility Agent
(UA)
• Size: Small 150 to 250 kg.
• Function: Refuellable Tug vehicle, with
capability to perform teleoperated
docking to a CS, enabled by a real time
camera signal which is relayed through
the CS. Inspection.
• Positioning: Navigate from UB to client
spacecraft(s) and back for refueling.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 11/39
 Engine Module
(EM)
• Size: very small 40-70 kg,
• Function: Perform continouous N-S
stationkeeping of a client spacecraft.
Control is direct from the CS through
listening to the telemetry of the CS.
• Position: Attached on a CS. Porting to
spacecraft and docking is performed by
a UA.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 12/39
 Escort Agent
(EA)

• Size: Tiny 7-15 kg.

• Function: Perf. Risk free, close-up
camera inspect of a CS at all surfaces
from one side to the other. Relay signal
through the CS or the UA.
• Positioning: Ported to the inspection
target by a UA. Navigates around the
CS to inspect / assists UA in docking.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 13/39
 Utilization of
existing Satellite
assets
• Up-Link channels of CS: Utility Agent
may use Up-link channel of client
spacecraft, in proximity, to relay real-
time camera signal during docking/
inspection. Escort Agent does likewise.
• Tecommand of CS: May be used to
port towards the EM the required
commands through the Echo command.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 14/39
 UB with UA with EA

Utility Base
(tanker) >

Utility
Agent >

< Escort Agent

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 15/39
 UA with SC with EA

Client
satellite

< Escort Agent

Utility
Agent

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 16/39
 CS with UA with EA

Client
satellite

Escort Agent

Utility
Agent

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 17/39
 satellite with EM

< Engine
module

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 18/39
 Cross element
characteristics
• Segregated functionality
– Elements have complementary functions
• UB High level of resources
• UA High mobility
• EM controlled by client s/c, cheaper possible
• EA lightest, harmless, close-up inspection
• Cascade dependency of three layers
– UB>UA>EM
– UB>UA>EA
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 19/39
 Internal
element
characteristics
• Elements with high reusability
– ALL refuellable: UB, UA EM, EA, AKM
– Repairable as possible.
– Disposable tidily / canibalizeable.
• Low redundancy of subsystems
– compensated by redundancy of units and
repairability
– To keep the build and test cost low and complexity
at low to ease repairability.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 20/39
 Deployment
Schedule
Demo + 4 Phases

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 21/39
 Optimal
deployment

• Start from GEO

– that can use best the existing satellite
assets
– has the larger market.
– Most crouded
• Use a phased deployment and
opportunities as they come.
– One opportunity is identified now !
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 22/39
 OOS kick-start
Scenario

• One tanker spacecraft could be

launched by the Ariane-5 ECA flight, to
a high perigee GTO orbit.
• One chaser spacecraft (UA) could be
launched within 3 years time to catch
the tanker, revive it and use part of fuel
to push it to GEO and the surplus fuel to
perform missions (debris clean-up …) .
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 23/39
 What is the tanker
S/C (1)

• Totally passive fuel storage system.

• Contains 3 t. storable propellants.
• Has “easy to catch” attitude behaviour.
• Has passive docking interface.
• Can be produced in 3-4 months.
• Can survive long time unattended.

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 24/39
 What its use could
be?
• To be the target of a chaser spacecraft
that we call Utility Agent (UA).
• To demonstrate passive docking
capability.
• To provide fuel to the UA. (fuel sufficient
to reach GEO with 300 to 900 kg surplus
for further service demonstrations).
• Is a primitive early substitute of the UB.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 25/39
 Perigee [km]

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 High perigee GTO
characteristics

• Perigee height has periodic oscillation

but within acceptable limits.
• Inclination evolution is in a narrow band.

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 27/39
 minutes

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Why frozen ?

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 FAQ 1

• Isn’t it dangerous to Launch ?

• Passive nature (no power to activate
valves or heaters, no pyros, no EMC
compatibility issue) ensures safety.
• No catalyst on board to enable ignition.

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 29/39
 FAQ 2

• Isn’t it dangerous to “fly around”

long time uncontrolled ?
• This is a practice currently followed by
many operational spacecraft (some
NOAA s/c and some telescopes) not a
first.
• Fuel availability and OOS could stop
this phenomenon

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 30/39
 FAQ 3

• Is the tanker S/C feasible ?

Design available, team to realize
available.
• Is the Utility Agent feasible ?
Patent pending solution for final
docking phase simplification
(apparatus & method). Positive
feedback from the patent office.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 31/39
 Why start now ?

• Opportunity to demonstrate aggressive

attitude to trouble shooting, which is
the essence of OOS.
• Relatively large capacity available (3.7 t)
calls upon completion of the task (large
incentive).

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 32/39
 The benefit to
GEO Ring USERS
>...
OOS will get finally a kick start date for
performing:
• PHASE 0 (Demo)
– Inspection in-situ;
– Transportation of spent Apogee Kick Motors and
upper stages to grave yard;
– Transportation of spent satellites to grave yard but
also tidely (gathered );
– Inclination correction (repetitive) extending lifetime;
– Demonstrate / optimise refuelling process;
– Cheap satellites will become readily available;
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 33/39
 ... Other benefits
to GEO Ring
USERS >...
• PHASE 1 (full deployment, at 3600)
– Small refuelable satellites will emerge.
Small entry cost to new entrants.
– Refuelling of CS will be available only on
the UB, or could be transported by UA
given kinetic energy (∆v).
– Bulk fuel quantities available on cargo
basis for cheap refueling of servicing fleet.

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 34/39
 ... Other benefits
to GEO Ring
USERS >...
• PHASE 2 (Refuelling to CS)
– The refuelling service will be available at low cost to
the CSs in-situ, by means of refuelling capable UAs.
– Modular satellites with replaceable elements will start
to emerge. Cost will drop due to reduced need for
long life components due to replaceability option.
– Satellites of reduced redundancy will further emerge
and squeeze cost also due to emerging replaceability
option.

7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 35/39
 ... Other benefits
to GEO Ring
USERS >...
• PHASE 3 (Maintenance demo &
operations)
– Maintenance service will become available
in situ for replacing modules, on the UB for
deeper Unit Level interventions
(momentum wheels, battery packs,…)
– Progresive maintenace capability to lower
levels in the enginnering higherarchy
(subassembly level, Part level).
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 36/39
 ... Other benefits
to GEO Ring
USERS .
• PHASE 4 (Assembly)
– Large long duration reusable structures like
antenna reflectors will become available
reducing the need to launch them with the
spacecrafts.
– Cost / performance ration will be reduced
to record low levels.
– Mass marker services will become
available to low income customers globally
(satellite mobile phones, ) and moon bound
& Lanrgange points projects will emerge.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 37/39
 Status

• Continue to submit agressively patent

applications.
• Continue to develop partnerships (MoUs, co-
operation Agreements).
• Continue to investigate opportunities on
qualification flights (ESA, …).
• Develop marketing and sponsor offerings with
Media firms.
• Ready to perform the TANKER mission
• Target to perform space debris clean-up in
the nearest future (3 years), for demo.
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 38/39
 Thank You

For more details on the project

HERMES
• see Web site :
www.GEO-Ring.biz
• mail questions to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
7-Jun-04
To : UN-COPUOS 39/39