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Orbital Express ASTRO servicing spacecraft

ASTRO was Boeing's robotic servicing spacecraft for DARPA's Orbital Express demonstration. Autonomous relative navigation and capture, a robotic arm, and standardized servicing interfaces enabled rendezvous, docking, hydrazine transfer, and replacement of modular spacecraft hardware with the cooperative NEXTSat client. NASA's Advanced Video Guidance Sensor contributed relative position and attitude measurements.

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Identity

Aliases
ASTROAutonomous Space Transport Robotic OperationsOrbital Express servicer
Family Name
Orbital Express ASTRO
Full Name
Orbital Express ASTRO servicing spacecraft
Roles
servicingtechnology_demonstrator
Status
retired
Type
spacecraft

Details

Description
ASTRO was Boeing's robotic servicing spacecraft for DARPA's Orbital Express demonstration. Autonomous relative navigation and capture, a robotic arm, and standardized servicing interfaces enabled rendezvous, docking, hydrazine transfer, and replacement of modular spacecraft hardware with the cooperative NEXTSat client. NASA's Advanced Video Guidance Sensor contributed relative position and attitude measurements.
First Flight Year
2,007
Manufacturer

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Creation Time
October 29, 2026 at 15:25:24 UTC
Updated Time
October 29, 2026 at 15:25:24 UTC