Design and Operational Planning of the ARCap Module: Concept of Operations for Autonomous RvD and OOS, Launcher Vibration Analysis and End Effector Design

The exponentially increasing number of satellite and space debris in orbit has led to an ever-growing interest and focus on Rendezvous and Docking (RvD) and On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) missions. Development of technologies able to perform such operations reliably, allow to extend operational life of working satellites, remove defunct one to have a more sustainable and reusable space infrastructures. Withing this context, this thesis focuses on the early development (Phase 0 and A) of the ARCap Module by Kurs Orbital, a plug and play solution to be mounted as payload on hosting platforms. The module provide guidance capabilities during the rendezvous maneuver through its sensor suite and enables target capture and on-orbit servicing via integrated robotic arms. The work focused on identifying mission operations through the definition of a detailed Concept of Operations (CONOPS), performing an initial vibration analysis for launcher compatibility, and conducting a Launcher Adapter Ring (LAR) analysis to support the preliminary design of the robotic arms' end-effector. As for the operations needed from the module a state of the art state-of-the-art review of current RvD and OOS missions, such as MEV-1 and MEV-2 and ELSA-d, provided a benchmark for defining mission requirements and identifying enabling technologies. These elements, combined with the ARCap mission objectives, led to the definition of all operations the module must perform from launch to decommissioning, with particular focus on the nomanil ones enabling Rendezvous and Docking (RvD) and On-Orbit Servicing (OOS). A vibration analysis was performed comparing the Launch vibration enviroment of the most common used launcher orldwide to define the worst case scenario to be used as benchmark for defining structural requirements. In parallel, a Launcher Adapter Ring (LAR) analysis was conducted to define interface constraints. Various end-effector concepts were reviewed and compared, leading to a preliminary design with tailored actuation and contact surfaces to maximize adaptability and robustness. This work establishes the baseline design for the ARCap module operations, vibration analysis and end effector design, serving as a foundation for subsequent phases of the project, which will focus on detailed development of the operations, validation of the requirements, and system integration.