Speaker
Description
SPHERES TETHER SLOSH combines fluid dynamics equipment with robotic
capabilities aboard the International Space Station ISS to investigate automated strategies
for steering passive cargo. A liquid-filled tank is maneuvered inside the ISS by two
Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites (SPHERES). The
two satellites are attached to a passive sloshing tank by Kevlar tethers. The satellites shall
maneuver the passive tank both with open loop guidance as well as in closed loop control. A
better understanding on how to deorbit e.g. a stranded satellite shall be goal of the study.
Furthermore the data was used to benchmark Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
coupled analysis software which may be used for future mission analysis. The experiment
was performed both with a fluid filled tank as well as with a rigid body tank of the same
mass and inertia. This allows better understanding the impact of the sloshing liquid. At the
present time tests were performed only with the liquid filled tank in open loop (noncontrolled). Comparisons showing the impact of the sloshing liquid were performed with
CFD. The maneuvers consider translation as well as rotation of the passive tank similar to
Δv and repointing maneuvers. Two experiment sessions were carried out January 17th 2018
and April 4th 2018. The experimental layout as well as experiment results are
presented.
| Keywords | SPHERES satellites, sloshing, ISS |
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