Skip to main content Skip to main navigation

Publikation

Design of an Interoperable Interface for In-Space Operations and Services of Modular Spacecraft

Mathieu Deremetz; Giuseppe Ventura; Jacob Beck; Pierre Letier; Raphaël Boissonnade; Côme Berger; Montserrat Diaz-Carrasco; Ana Luisa Ruiz; Thomas A. Schervan; Christopher Zeis; Mehmed Yüksel; Wiebke Brinkmann; Fabien Marty; Matisse Briand
In: International Astronautical Congress. International Astronautical Congress (IAC-2025), 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), located at IAC-2025, September 29 - October 3, Sydney, AU-NSW, Australia, IAF, 2025.

Zusammenfassung

Current satellite designs are based on specific mission profiles, lacking the flexibility to adapt their capabilities, be repaired, or be refueled to extend their lifetime. In Europe, several companies are developing technologies to address this limitation and enable On-Orbit Servicing operations. Specifically, Space Application Services, Sener and iBOSS have developed Spacecraft Service Interfaces, respectively called HOTDOCK, SIROM and iSSI® that can be used to connect to satellite modules or Orbital Replacement Units, to build large structures in space, or to be equipped to robotic manipulators as end-effectors. These interfaces, in addition to providing a mechanical connection between two entities, also allow the transfer of data and power between them. Currently developed independently, none of these interfaces can operate with the others. This lack of interoperability does not allow a spacecraft equipped with an interface to be served by a spacecraft equipped with a different one, severely limiting cross-system compatibility and redundancy. For this reason, the HORIZON EUROPE SPACE USB project aims to create a Common Passive Interface that is compatible with the three interfaces mentioned above. This new interoperable interface provides a mechanical connection and the exchange of data and electrical power with all three existing interfaces, without degrading performance or requiring substantial design modifications. This solution marks a critical step toward standardization in space, facilitating on-orbit servicing and promoting interoperability among different systems, thus enabling the emerging on-orbit robotic servicing market in Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit. This paper describes the design processes and phases carried out within the SPACE USB activity. Starting from the analysis of the three existing interfaces, design priorities for each of them and the challenges that prevent interoperability between them have been identified and overcome. Different concepts were proposed and, subsequently, a trade-off analysis was conducted to choose the most viable, satisfying each individual constraint. Finally, a detailed design phase has been completed, and a laboratory implementation supported by a robotic testbed is planned by Q4 2025.

Projekte