This month, Lúnasa has started a new project with the University of Surrey’s STAR LAB, led by Prof. Yang Gao, to support the development of Lúnasa’s rendezvous proximity operations and docking (RPOD) technology, under a funding award by SPRINT programme.

The primary objective of the SPRINT project is to accelerate the development of Lúnasa’s rendezvous and docking capabilities, identify suitable avionics and electronics, and look at the concept of operations in orbit. The technology is set for an orbital demonstration mission by 2023. Lúnasa’s dual-stage in-space satellite servicing vehicle will be utilising the RPOD technology to become reusable and perform in-orbit services.

Additionally, the project will enable Lúnasa’s engineers to access STAR LAB’s experts and scholars in the fields of computer vision, space robotics, and GNC systems, to support the development of close proximity and docking capabilities.

Amin Chabi, CEO and Founder of Lúnasa Space said: “Small Satellite industry is growing rapidly and there is an increasing demand for affordable access to space and in-orbit services. Lúnasa’s vehicles are designed to utilise the RPOD technology to become reusable and perform several in-orbit services e.g. last-mile delivery, life extension, active debris removal, and advanced payload inspection, in Low Earth Orbit and beyond. We are very pleased with the SPRINT grant funding to support the ongoing RPOD development in collaboration with STAR LAB.”

Professor Yang Gao FIET FRAeS, head of Surrey’s STAR LAB team, comments: “We are very pleased to receive this SPRINT grant that aims at fostering academia-industry partnership and facilitating knowledge transfer to space SMEs. Our exciting project in collaboration with Lunasa will advance mission concept for future in-orbit servicing and help consolidate leading roles that the UK can play in the area of autonomous navigation and docking.”

About STAR LAB

The Space Technology for Autonomous & Robotic systems Laboratory (STAR LAB) within Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey is led by the academic PI, Professor Yang Gao and a team of academic scholars, engineers and roboticists. STAR LAB specialises in space system and mission designs involving perception, GNC and autonomy. The lab is also equipped with facilities to help test and validate relevant research work using software and hardware testbeds.