RENDEZVOUS AUTONOMOUS CUBESATS EXPERIMENT (RACE) MISSION PHASE A/B – EXPRO+
2, October 2017

ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9067
Open Date: 26/09/2017
Closing Date: 21/11/2017 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 17.138.02
Prog. Ref.: GSTP Element 3 “Fly”
Budget Ref.: E/0904-630 – GSTP Element 3 “Fly”
Special Prov.: DK+IT+RO+CH+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Other
Techology Domains: Others
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: System, Software & Technology Department
Division: Systems and Cost Engineering Division
Contract Officer: Fabrizi, Lavinia
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 26/09/2017
Update Reason: Tender issue

RACE has been conceived by ESA as a low-cost IOD mission in low Earth orbit to demonstrate the capability of nano-satellite systems(following the CubeSat form factor) to perform close proximity operations relative to cooperative targets (rendezvous and docking) and optionally uncooperative targets (pose estimation and close fly around) using the following critical miniaturised technologies currently under development in Europe: relative navigation sensors (visual camera, differential GNSS, laser range finder/LiDAR) relative control actuators (propulsion system for 6 DoF fine control) docking mechanisms (soft and hard docking systems)The objective of this activity is to define the Rendezvous Autonomous Cubesats Experiment (RACE) IOD CubeSat mission/system requirements and preliminary design baseline with supporting trade-offs, analyses and breadboarding (as necessary) in order to confirm the technical feasibility, operations concept, and programmatics for a follow-on implementation phase (including system development plan, cost, schedule and consortium composition).

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