The Techsat-21 autonomous sciencecraft constellation

Abstract

The Autonomous Sciencecraft Constellation flight demonstration (ASC) will fly onboard the Air Force’s TechSat-21 constellation (an unclassified mission scheduled for launch in 2004). ASC will use onboard science analysis, replanning, robust execution, modelbased estimation and control, and formation flying to radically increase science return by enabling intelligent downlink selection and autonomous retargeting. Demonstration of these capabilities in a flight environment will open up tremendous new opportunities in planetary science, space physics, and earth science that would be unreachable without this technology.