Space START: the TAS concept for in orbit servicing

In orbit servicing pioneers fundamentally changed the approach in space but the tugging operations, addressable in relative short term seems to be already obsolete for customers in the next 5 to 10 years. The Thales Alenia Space (TAS) system solution, illustrated in this paper, is therefore about a multitasking vehicle focusing ambitious in-orbit technology demonstration and paving the way to the services on the "next generation of satellites", that will be born adequately prepared to be cooperative with external objects. TAS went through on-ground test of key technologies and building blocks that will enable a large range of efficient and safe orbital services like: rendez-vous, navigation, guidance for docking, robotics control, capturing, grasping, berthing, manipulation of cooperative target trough payload transfer and replacement.