OF TELEROBOTIC ON-ORBIT SATELLITE SERVICING

The aim of this research is to devise an improved method for evaluating the techni-cal and economic feasibility of telerobotic on-orbit satellite servicing scenarios. Past, present, and future telerobotic on-orbit servicing systems and their key capabilities are examined. Previous technical and economic analyses of satellite servicing are re-viewed and evaluated. The standard method employed by previous feasibility studies is extended, developing a new servicing decision approach incorporating operational uncertainties (launch, docking, et cetera). Comprehensive databases of satellite char-acteristics and on-orbit failures are developed to provide input to the expected value evaluation of the servicing versus no-servicing decision. Past satellite failures are re-viewed and analyzed, including the economic impact of those satellite failures. Oppor-tunities for spacecraft life extension are also determined. Servicing markets of various types are identified and detailed using the results of the database analysis and the new, expected-value-based servicing feasibility method. This expected value market assessment provides a standard basis for satellite servicing decision-making for any proposed servicing architecture. Finally, the method is demonstrated by evaluating