XSS-11 Autonomous Satellite Launched For U.S Military

Like its predecessor XSS‐10, XSS‐11 is part of the Experimental Spacecraft System series (XSS). XSS consists of a small fleet of microsatellites designed and operated by the Air Force Research Laboratory based in Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. These microsats are expected to demonstrate technologies and procedures for inspection, maintenance, and repair services for orbiting spacecraft. The objective is to provide these various services at lower cost and more quickly than an alternative program in which a
replacement platform is launched from Earth. The XSS program will focus on close‐proximity inspection,
responsive, on‐orbit and beyond‐orbit services, and maintenance and repair activities that will extend the
life and performance of orbital assets at lower cost than ground based programs.

XSS‐11 was designed to autonomously plan and rendezvous with space objects. This capability is considered another “tool” for the Air Force’s space toolbox. "We're a lab. Our job is to demonstrate technologies," Harold "Vern" Baker, AFRL's XSS‐11 program manager said, referring to AFRL. According to Baker, “The job of XSS‐11 is to add another tool to the tool box that military space commanders can consider incorporating. There are a number of possibilities for servicing, inspection, repair...there's just a wide list." XSS‐11 was expected to conduct rendezvous maneuvers with six to eight objects, the first of which was the upper stage of the Minotaur rocket that carried it into space. These maneuvers would allow the Air Force to test the feasibility of servicing and inspecting military satellites in space, including its own. Baker’s team also helped the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officials develop rendezvous scenarios for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

NASA is also interested in using proximity maneuvering technology and spacecraft autonomy software for
a Mars‐sample‐return mission, so that a lander would be able to dock autonomously with a mother ship
after a visit to the surface. Spacecraft autonomy is one of the requirements set forth in President George
W. Bush’s Vision for Space Exploration (VSE).

The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS) is poised to launch The eXperimental Spacecraft System (XSS-11) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., later this spring, setting the stage for the spacecraft’s mission to advance technologies and techniques to increase the level of autonomy, guidance and safety for microsatellites. Space Systems Company in Denver, Colo., designed and developed the XSS-11 vehicle. AFRL, SSC and Jackson & Tull built and tested the XSS-11 spacecraft
at VS’s Aerospace Engineering Facility at Kirtland AFB, N.M. After successful system integration and testing, the vehicle was transported to Vandenberg where it was mated with the Minotaur launch vehicle.
“This vehicle is a very capable spacecraft given its size, weight and power constraints,” said Kevin Rummell,
XSS-11 program manager for Space Systems Company. “XSS-11 will push the state of the possible for autonomous vehicle operations in support of the Air Force’s mission needs.”

The XSS-11 vehicle consists of electrical/mechanical and sensor subsystems necessary to achieve mission
requirements. The space flight phase of the program will start with launch and early on-orbit testing of the various subsystems and vehicle capabilities. After completing the initial checkouts, the XSS-11 vehicle will be commanded to plan and execute various sortie profiles that are intended to exercise the mission planning and command and control aspects of the mission. The XSS-11 mission has been designed to support one
year of on-orbit operations.