Result of Rendezvous Docking Experiment of ETS-VII.

Abstract

ETS–VII is a test satellite to perform in-orbit demonstration of autonomous rendezvous docking (RVD) technology, which will be necessary for advanced space activities in the early 21st century. ETS–VII performed three RVD experiment flights, and verified all technical items. ETS–VII demonstrated first autonomous RVD between unmanned vehicles, and remote piloted rendezvous flight position accuracy at docking was about 1cm, and acceleration was less than 1.5mG (low impact docking). In the second RVD experiment flight, ETS–VII detected attitude anomaly and executed disable abort for safety insurance. We present the results and evaluation of three RVD experiment flights in this pape