ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9850
Open Date: 04/06/2019
Closing Date: 13/08/2019 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 19.138.02
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+ES+FR+FI+GB+GR+HU+IT+IE+LU+NO+NL+PL+PT+RO+SE
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / AOCS & GNC / Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) / Other
Technology Domains: Space System Control / Control Systems Innovative Technologies / GNC Technologies for Cruise, Rendezvous and Docking or Capture / System Design & Verification / Mission and System Specification / Requirement Engineering / System Design & Verification / Mission and System Specification / Specification Methods and Tools
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Systems Department
Division: Systems Engineering Division
Contract Officer: Casini, Gian Lorenzo
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 04/06/2019
Update Reason: Tender issue

Rendezvous and proximity operations can be greatly beneficial for a wide range of services but are inherently risky and complex. Rendezvous and proximity operation technologies, and standards have been developed in the past (e.g. ATV), but for commercial operators, cost constraints for supporting servicing missions (such as refuelling, station keeping, active debris removal) require a substantial shift in terms of design rules and safety design approach. Previous activities (e.g. E.Deorbit, Internal Working Group on CloseProximity Operations) have identified clear knowledge gaps of major importance for rendezvous and capture, and therefore a particular lack of technical requirements and verification methods for ensuring rendezvous and proximity operations are conducted in a safe and responsible manner. With European industry moving forward on Space Servicing Vehicle concepts, ESA aims, through this activity, to support industry in developing the methodology for determining how to perform rendezvous and proximity operations in a sustainableand safe way. The activity shall take into account all aspects of the rendezvous, capture and servicing operation including separation (e.g. Trajectories types, capture equipment).This activity is organised as follows: Derive rendezvous and proximity operations requirements / design rules which ensure safety against collision covering all aspects (GNC, Robotics, Operations) Provide a justification / rationale for the requirements identified Determine analysis required to verify compliance with the requirements Assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach by performing analysis for a case study (including an assessment of the system impacts) Obtain an analysis of the requirements from the various stakeholders (e.g. Insurers, operators, manufacturers)