COARSE: Convex Optimization Based Autonomous Control for Asteroid Rendezvous and Sample Exploration

The technology proposed is directly applicable to the needs of the NASA Technology Roadmap TA04 for spacecraft autonomy and autonomous rendezvous and docking. The current planned mission of OSIRIS-REx going to asteroid 1999 RQ36 for sample return would greatly benefit from proposed algorithms. More generally, other NASA missions to benefit would be: 1. Planetary landing missions (example Mars and Titan) 2. New Frontiers missions (Comet Surface Sample Return and Trojan Tour and Rendezvous) 3. Discovery class missions to asteroids NASA's Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle is another potential beneficiary of the COARSE technology, as it extends its operations beyond Low Earth Orbit. Our proposed work provides a novel solution to manage on-board consumables for increased mission success.

Although COARSE is proposed for robotic exploration spacecraft near asteroids, the technology can be used in spacecraft generalized to any proximity operations, rendezvous and docking, or formation control. Managing consumables is always a priority for spacecraft, regardless of size or complexity. Companies like SpaceX and others providing commercial resupply services to the ISS, as well as vehicles like HTV and ATV could benefit from the proposed software. DoD missions in Low Earth Orbit which involve spacecraft rendezvous to high level of precision navigation around cooperative or noncooperative targets would be one application of this technology (e.g. DARPA Phoenix). More »