ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8379
Open Date: 07/07/2015
Closing Date: 16/10/2015

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.1EC.03
Prog. Ref.: TRP
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – TRP
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Manag
Department: Electrical Engineering Department
Division: Control Systems Division
Contract Officer: Houten, Marnix
Last Update Date: 07/07/2015
Update Reason: Tender issue

Three different assembly strategies involving module self-assembly, single small tug-based assembly, and multi dedicated tug-based assembly shall be modeled and compared in terms of mass-to-orbit requirements for various on-orbit assembly tasks. The following strategies shall be contemplated: 1. Self-Assembly: Each module performs its own rendezvous and docking operations (this is the approach selected by the Russians but believed expensive for ESA) flying with each payload. 2. Small Single Tug: A dedicated, small, versatile, tug to perform all required assembly operations. 3. Multiple Mission Tug: A tug, based at the orbital infrastructure, which performs multiple rendezvous and docking missions of the incoming orbital elements, carried each by their own launcher upper stage Assembly in Orbit is defined as the joining of spacecraft or parts of spacecraft in orbit; it may be accomplished automatically or with the participation of the spacecraft crews. The aim of assembly in orbit may be the construction of large artificial earth satellites (space stations) or interplanetary vehicles from individual subassemblies that have been consecutively placed in near-earth orbit. Docking of spacecraft for assembly is preceded by the stages of search, location, approach, and mating. The following tasks are contemplated in this activity: T1: Background and Literature Review T2: On-Orbit Assembly Strategies definition and trade-off T3: Modelling and simulations T4: Conclusions and technology roadmaps for further development

If you wish to access the documents related to the Invitation to Tender, you have to log in to the ESA Portal.