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The Space Debris Sensor ExperimentThe Space Debris Sensor (SDS) is a NASA Class 1E technology demonstration external payload aboard the International Space Station (ISS). With approximately one square meter of detection area, the SDS is attached to the European Space Agency Columbus module facing the ISS velocity vector with minimal obstruction from ISS hardware. The SDS is the first flight demonstration of the Debris Resistive/Acoustic Grid Orbital NASA-Navy Sensor (DRAGONS) technology developed and matured over 10 years by the NASA Orbital Debris Program Office (ODPO), in concert with the DRAGONS consortium, to provide information on the sub-millimeter scale orbital debris environment. The SDS demonstrated the capacity to read 4 resistive grids at 1 Hz, 40 acoustic sensors at 500 kHz, and record and downlink impact data to the ground. Observable and derived data from the SDS could provide information to models that are critical to understanding risks the small debris environment poses to spacecraft in low Earth orbit. The technology demonstrated by the SDS is a major step forward in monitoring and characterizing the space debris environment. This paper will address the technical performance of the SDS during its operational lifetime and its realization of technical and scientific goals. The SDS was intended to operate for 3 years; however, the payload incurred multiple anomalies during its operational life. Subsequently termed “Anomaly #1,” the first was the symptomatic loss of low data rate 1553 channel command and telemetry. The second, Anomaly #2, was loss of all low- and medium-data rate (Ethernet) telemetry. Anomaly #2 proved to be unrecoverable, leading to loss of the payload after approximately 26 days on-board the ISS. Therefore, this paper also addresses the anomalies that occurred during operation of the SDS, their attribution, and their resolution. Lessons learned are described when relevant to anomaly identification, attribution, and resolution.


Document ID
20190033909
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Anz-Meador, P.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Ward, M.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Manis, A.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Nornoo, K.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Dolan, B.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Claunch, C.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Rivera, J.
(Jacobs Engineering Group Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
December 12, 2019
Publication Date
December 9, 2019
Subject Category
Space Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
JSC-E-DAA-TN74830
Meeting Information
Meeting: International Orbital Debris (IOC) Conference
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: December 9, 2019
End Date: December 12, 2019
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNJ13HA01C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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