UPDATE: SUCCESSFUL RSAT-P LAUNCH

0633Z 16 May 2018

AMODS

Autonomous Mobile On-orbit Diagnostic System

The goal of the AMODS project is to assure the ability to provide the physical on-orbit interaction needed to generate diagnostic data. AMODS employs a modular, CubeSat style design approach to overcome traditional cost and technological hurdles.

"You can only act on the data you have."

SS/L President John Celli

MISSION

Originally conceived by researchers at the United States Naval Academy, the goal of the Autonomous Mobile On-orbit Diagnostic System (AMODS) is to demonstrate the feasibility of using CubeSats to diagnose malfunctions or failure in, and repair, larger conventional satellites. AMODS employs a modular, CubeSat style design consisting of: 1) several repair CubeSats (RSats) with manipulable robotic arms designed to latch onto a host satellite and maneuver, image, and potentially repair various components; and one self-propelled transport CubeSat (BRICSat), a “space tug” with the ability to manage rendezvous operations. The projected cost of an AMODS deployment is less than $300,000.

RSat

RSat is a 3U (33 x 10 x 10 cm) Cube Satellite with two 60 cm seven degree of freedom robotic arms designed to latch onto a host satellite and maneuver, image, and potentially repair various components.

BRICSat

BRICSat is a self-propelled transport CubeSat (BRICSat), accts as a “space tug” with to provide rendezvous capability to RSat. One BRICSat launches with several RSat and distributes them across a constellation.

As of August 2018

CURRENT STATUS

20 May 2015

BRICSat-P Launch

BRICSat-P was a 1.5U CubeSat that served as the initial prototype of the BRICSat spacecraft. It launched as part of AFSPC-5, and demonstrated key aspects of the propulsion system.

NET 30 November 2018

BRICSat-D Launch

The second BRICSat, BRICSat-D will launch in Late-2018 on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy STP-2 launch. It will further demonstrate the propulsion system and validate key maneuver concepts.

NET December 2018

RSat-P Launch

The initial launch of an RSat system, RSat-P is manifest to launch as part of ELaNa XIX on a RocketLab Electron rocket from New Zealand. This first RSat will be a free-floating demonstrator and will conduct a series of arm maneuvers to validate the diagnostic concept.