Virtual Testbed for Development, Test and Validation of Modular Satellites

The iBOSS project [1] (Intelligent Building Blocks for On-Orbit Satellite Servicing and Assembly) centers around two key elements: modules consisting of both, structural and functional elements, and a standardized 4-in-1 interface for docking, power, d ata and thermal interconnection. In this approach, the classical spacecraft subsystems are converted into specialized and standardized building blocks. These building blocks are then used to form a maintainabl e modular and reconfigurable spacecraft. In order to handle the technical complexity and bri ge the gap between technical and economical requirements and impact, all building blocks and al l derived satellites are first modeled and analyzed i n a comprehensive “Virtual Testbed iBOSS” (VTi). The VTi combines virtual reality and 3D simulation techniques, and covers all relevant aspects of on-o rbit assembly and operation. In this paper, we focus on the VTi and its overall concept as well as the various aspects covered by t he VTi. This incorporates rigid body dynamics, control algorithms for satellites, robotic servicing in dif ferent orbits, the simulation of thermal and energy aspect s as well as the simulation of the building blocks interfaces. Several reference scenarios, like satel lite and servicing simulation or hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulation that combine virtual satellites wi th physical building blocks, will illustrate the feasi bil ty of the VTi approach and its benefits for the iBOSS ecosystem.