Toward Autonomy for Deep-Space Infrastructure

Future international deep-space missions, such as a Gateway outpost at the Earth-Moon Libration L2 point (EML2), will require advanced robotic servicing with a very high level of autonomy. Realization of this autonomy should also increase the efficiency of ground operations and analyses by making it easier to plan and monitor operations under various mission constraints. While a great deal of research has gone into studying the autonomy problem for planetary rovers and science spacecraft, the domain of robotic servicing beyond low Earth orbit is relatively immature. This paper reports the progress of an ongoing study aimed at developing and maturing enabling autonomous robotic servicing technologies for deep-space exploration. A software breadboard is being used to evaluate candidate technologies for the architecture and provide proof-of-concept to a Technology Readiness Level of TRL 3.