Gravity Offload System constructed in our In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing Facility
Alice Charlton
The latest upgrade to our In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) Facility has just completed construction and testing. The large steel structure in the video above is a brand-new gravity offload system, designed to better allow the facility to simulate microgravity here on Earth. This addition to our Westcott site not only increases the capabilities of the facility but also marks the conclusion of a major upgrade project funded by the UK Space Agency, which has seen major changes to the physical space as well as the digital and technological infrastructure that supports the facility.
After construction off-site at Amentum, the contractor that handled the engineering and building of this solution, the gravity off-load system was disassembled, transported to our facility in the Westcott Venture Park, and reassembled in the ISAM test facility. After a series of operations to properly tension and calibrate the system, this expansion to our facility means that we can now handle larger payloads in more unique configurations than ever before.
What is a Gravity Offload System?
Put simply, a gravity offload system is any device or set of devices that reduce the force felt by gravity and allow objects to move freely – which of course is especially important for testing ISAM solutions designed to operate in the microgravity of orbit. There are many ways of achieving this, including using air bearings, water buoyancy systems, and complex pulley systems.
Our new system utilises a spring balance system that can be tuned to a payload’s mass to perfectly offset gravity. These payloads can be a variety of objects, from simulated space debris to orbital refuelling targets or service modules, all of which can be tested in our facility.
Why is this System Important?
Whilst our robotics systems are able to use incredibly advanced software to mimic the movement of spacecraft interacting in orbit, this system relies on direct physical forces to determine the movement of the target – in short, if you push the target, it moves away.
For campaigns attempting to approach, capture, service or refuel a target, there is no better validation than a physics-based gravity offload system to validate your ISAM solution.
This system’s construction, as well as the conclusion of the larger upgrade project at our ISAM facility, means that at Satellite Applications Catapult we can now provide a world-class service for testing you ISAM solutions and products, using a combination of our newly updated facility and the incredible wealth of expertise and experience that our engineers offer when you test with us.
To find out more about how we can support your product’s ISAM journey, get in touch by emailing facilities@sa.catapult.org.uk.
