Autonomous rendezvous system overcomes simulated spacecraft failures in lab tests

AI Summary

A laboratory-tested autonomous rendezvous system was able to manage simulated spacecraft failures, supporting potential servicing of satellites in low Earth orbit. The technology addresses growing orbital debris and collision risks as the number of inactive or unresponsive satellites increases.

There is a problem in low Earth orbit, and it's growing. According to the European Space Agency, there are about 19,440 satellites on orbit, 3,540 of which are nonfunctioning and/or not emitting a signal to warn other spacecraft of their location. The need to service these sleepwalking satellites in space will only increase as more are launched.