Disturbance reduction system: testing technology for precision formation control

William M. Folkner; Sasha Buchman; Robert L. Byer; Daniel B. DeBra; C. J. Dennehy; Manuel Gamero-Castano; J. Hanson; Vlad Hruby; George M. Keiser; Andy Kuhnert; F. Landis Markley; M. Houghton; P. Maghami; David C. Miller; S. Prakash; Robert Spero

doi:10.1117/12.457878

3 March 2003 Disturbance reduction system: testing technology for precision formation control

William M. Folkner, Sasha Buchman, Robert L. Byer, Daniel B. DeBra, C. J. Dennehy, Manuel Gamero-Castano, J. Hanson, Vlad Hruby, George M. Keiser, Andy Kuhnert, F. Landis Markley, M. Houghton, P. Maghami, David C. Miller, S. Prakash, Robert Spero

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4860, High-Contrast Imaging for Exo-Planet Detection; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457878
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

The Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) is a space technology demonstration within NASAs New Millennium Program. DRS is designed to validate system-level technology required for future gravity missions, including the planned LISA gravitational-wave observatory, and for formation-flying interferometers. DRS is based on a freely-floating test mass contained within a spacecraft that shields the test mass from external forces. The spacecraft position will be continuously adjusted to stay centered about the test mass, essentially flying in formation with the test mass. Colloidal microthrusters will be used to control the spacecraft position within a few nanometers, over time scales of tens to thousands of seconds. For testing the level of acceleration noise on the test mass, a second test mass will be used as a reference. The second test mass will also be used as a reference for spacecraft attitude. The spacecraft attitude will be controlled to an accuracy of a few milliarcseconds using the colloidal microthrusters. DRS will consist of an instrument package and a set of microthrusters, which will be attached to the European Space Agencys SMART2 spacecraft with launch scheduled for August 2006.

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William M. Folkner, Sasha Buchman, Robert L. Byer, Daniel B. DeBra, C. J. Dennehy, Manuel Gamero-Castano, J. Hanson, Vlad Hruby, George M. Keiser, Andy Kuhnert, F. Landis Markley, M. Houghton, P. Maghami, David C. Miller, S. Prakash, and Robert Spero "Disturbance reduction system: testing technology for precision formation control", Proc. SPIE 4860, High-Contrast Imaging for Exo-Planet Detection, (3 March 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457878

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