ASTERIA| Let's Connect

Awards & Nominations

ASTERIA has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!

Global Nominee

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For bigger spacecraft capable of executing bigger missions, some of the assembly may be done in space. Your challenge is to design a simple approach that enables components to be assembled in space.

ASTERIA

Summary

The future of Mankind lies in the stars making space our home, where not only NASA-trained astronauts will experience the vast universe, but any of us. Making it necessary to be able to have a mechanism to build the next space hotels and starships that will venture to other planets. Using NASA Technology and keeping the safety of our space travelers and spacecraft, ASTERIA takes place being a Universal docking and berthing system.

How We Addressed This Challenge

Thinking about the future of humanity and its longing to conquer the universe, our team focused on solving the challenges that space travel presents us considering the data collected during the aerospace history of NASA, ASTERIA provides a simple solution, safe and durable.

The asteria team took into account that nowadays the docking systems between the different space agencies are very varied and are not compatible with each other, making them non-androgynous. Understanding that in order to take a further step into space exploration androgen systems are needed, uniting all space agencies in one, our team designed a prototype to meet these requirements, abording different problems at the same time.



What is ASTERIA?

ASTERIA is an androgynous docking system capable of adapting to any spacecraft, component or module in order to build, dock and undock. Following IDSS standards, it is focused on technological capabilities, viability and durability. On the other hand, it can be used in ships to carry out rescue operations with an autonomous energy system, being located in a hatch of the module or ship in order to be able to transfer cargo, power, data, commands, air, communication and assemble components to build structures. ASTERIA faces the current problems and the challenge of conquering the future space in a different, secure, and simple way.


How it Works

ASTERIA consists of three main systems.

1- Software

  • The first system allows geo-positioning and alignment of the system with respect to the coupling to be made of the module / ship, by means of laser sensors located around the coupling system. This sensors must have the capacity to measure distance, approach, speed, positioning, with respect to the module to be coupled, all controlled by the software AI.


2- Electromagnet and hydraulics

  • The second system consists of a ring around the gate that has an electromagnet attached to a hydraulic actuator capable of expanding or retracting, which will act as a buffer for the approach and when retracting it generates the union of the two electromagnets, which light up in approach moment and error less than 3 inches sent by the laser sensor, activating them. It remains active until the third system is positioned in the corresponding place, from there, the electromagnets will deactivate. They have a polarity change mechanism to guarantee the sealing.





3- Hydraulic arms



  • The third system consists of two telescopic hydraulic claw that allow the fixing of both devices permanently or temporarily, with sufficient force to guarantee the docking of the system. The top of the arm has a break at 90 degrees through an hydraulic actuator, and when the arm is retracted, it generates the force to perform a successful docking, being able to be inverted to perform an undocking.





As we faced the challenge to design a mechanism that should be safe and autonomus, ASTERIA has several auxiliar systems.



  • It has an auxiliary system composed of solar panels on the outside or an autonomous battery on the inside to be able to act in case the main power source has suffered a failure or in case the solar panels are inoperable. With this energy system we guarantee the correct operation of the entire system in any situation.





  • The hydraulic system consists of hydraulic accumulators that guarantee that the system has the necessary energy to carry out the action carried out.




  • It has an elastic and flexible material around the ring/hatch,taking place when generating the lock with of the hydraulic actuators, this material expand and contract guaranteeing the hermeticity of the system.




  • In the event of an emergency, there will be an auxiliary system through a manual activation valve that allows the hydraulic pressure to be removed from the system and generates the module's undocking, while the electromagnet system is deactivated with the power cut.




  • Auto-recovering system using nanotecnologic materials for small leaks of air.


Being a prototype designed in a short period of time, it takes into account all the data presented by the space agencies in order to correctly perform all of its functions.

How We Developed This Project
  • What inspired your team to choose this challenge?


We were mainly inspired by the fact that we can be part of the researches of the next generation of spaceships and structures built in space, making a small contribution to mankind. Also, one of our team members participated on a project called Project PoSSUM with NASA! That might have been the spark that started ASTERIA. Motivated, he asked us if we were interested in joining this challenge and we took it even further.



What was your approach to developing this project?


First we focused on investigating the current docking system models, after analyzing we could understand what was the problem to be solved and what factors we should have taken into account.That way we started to organize ourselves by distributing tasks and setting meeting times to discuss among all of us how we were going to move forward. Brainstorming meetings!


Our first approach led us to that docking system should be androgynous, for this we had to think about a new design totally renewed and with the application of new technologies.


Our next task was to find some low impact system, investigating a little and taking into account the conditions we came to the conclusion that a hydraulic system would be the best.


Then the next phase was to innovate the docking system for which we ended into the application of an electromagnet that could help stabilize the ship at the moment of docking. In the middle of the research, the idea of developing a system that would position the ship in a simpler and more precise way came up, and so did the implementation of lasers.


As the docking would be between two metals these would never be locked, for this it was enough to go to the refrigerators of our houses and notice that the solution was to put a flexible and compact material to ensure that they would be 100% hermetic.


So little by little we began to advance into the project, finding problems and looking for ways to solve them. The idea was always to facilitate the docking and to look for a androgynus adaptable system. And thats how ASTERIA was born.



What problems and achievements did your team have?

Starting up:



  • The hydraulic systems needed to be protected and in aware of the temperature gradient in space, as well as the flexing material.



  • Hydraulic system: Our first thoughts were using compressed air, which was dismiss ideas later. Which ended in improving the actual mechanism.



  • Design: By using this developed technology supported by big companies we found out that everything was created or used already, that was another challenge to beat.



  • Finding out simple designs with well developed machinery and innovating uses was the main key to create ASTERIA.



  • Ideas: Sharing ideas, planning and resolving tasks with the group was the most fun and challenging things that we had to pass through.



  • Time: Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and adding that each member of the group had different schedules, either for the college, school or work, it was difficult to find times to develop a sharing with everyone present.
How We Used Space Agency Data in This Project

We have used the data provided by the space agencies and their research facilities , taking as a starting point the investigations in systems with electromagnets provided by researchers at NASA's Jhonson Space Center, and then combine them with another series of data organizing it into categories:



  • Nanotechnology: Designing our prototype, we faced the challenge of materials, opting to investigate those materials that have nanotechnology, in order to cover and identify possible flaws in them, taking the investigations of the Nanotechnology Research Center at Canada, NASA's Johnson Space Center, NASA and JAXA, as our main source.



  • Solar panels: Without power the system could not even perform its functions, that is why the investigations of the CSA, ESA and NASA are our key.




  • Hydraulics: To allow low impact, hydraulics are essential from the moment of docking, JAXA and NASA resources and investigations at Hydraulics in Space helped us.




  • Docking Systems: The most important part of all, without it, ASTERIA would not have been possible. To achieve an androgenic system we had to go through all the space agencies and their developments on the subject. Going through Gemini, Apollo, Soyus, Zarya, and a lot others missions




  • Software: Although we could not expand on the creation of the software due to the short time, we bet on artificial intelligence to roughly align the spaceship for the docking.




  • Electromagnets: Without the electromagnets and their reversible polarity mechanism, there would be no way that our design would make sense, our prototype is based on them and that is why the researches at NASA's Jhonson Space Center and papers helped us all the way.


All of it was taken into account to make this prototype possible, looking at every detail possible, using DATA from NASA, JAXA, ESA, CSA and ROSCOSMOS. To cross the stars, we are committed towards a universal docking system for all agencies. For All Mankind.

Project Demo
Project Code
Data & Resources
  1. More efficient solar power with space technology. (2009). ESA. http://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Technology_Transfer/More_efficient_solar_power_with_space_technology
  2. JAXA | Spin-off Technologies from ASTRO-H. (2003). JAXA. https://global.jaxa.jp/article/special/astro_h/sgd_e.html
  3. Nanotechnology Research Centre. (2020). National Research Council Canada. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/research-centres/nanotechnology-research-centre
  4. About the Space Station Solar Arrays. (2017). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/elements/solar_arrays-about.html
  5. Building Solar Panels in Space Might be as Easy as Clicking Print. (2019). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/glenn/2019/building-solar-panels-in-space-might-be-as-easy-as-clicking-print
  6. SPACE Canada - Solar Power Alternative for Clean Energy, Solar Power Satellites. (2020). CSA. https://www.spacecanada.org/
  7. Solar-terrestrial science. (2017, August 7). CSA. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/solar-terrestrial.asp
  8. Takasago Fluidic Systems | SPACE COMPANY. (2020). JAXA Business Development and Industrial Relations Department. https://aerospacebiz.jaxa.jp/en/spacecompany/takasago/
  9. Gemini’s First Docking Turns to Wild Ride in Orbit. (2017). Gemini’s First Docking Turns to Wild Ride in Orbit. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/geminis-first-docking-turns-to-wild-ride-in-orbit
  10. Docking Turns to Wild Ride in Orbit. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/geminis-first-docking-turns-to-wild-ride-in-orbit
  11. NASA Docking System Block 1: NASA’s New Direct Electric Docking System Supporting ISS and Future Human Space Exploration. (2018). NASA Docking System Block 1: NASA’s New Direct Electric Docking System Supporting ISS and Future Human Space Exploration. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20180004167
  12. HOW TO REVERSE THE POLARITY OF A MAGNET. (2015). HOW TO REVERSE THE POLARITY OF A MAGNET. https://magnetpartner.com/blog/how-to-reverse-polarity-of-magnet#:~:text=The%20polarity%20of%20a%20magnet%20actually%20can%20be%20reversed%2C%20but,wires%20around%20on%20the%20inside
  13. New Software Keeps Self-Driving Cars on a Safe Path. (2020). New Software Keeps Self-Driving Cars on a Safe Path. https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/stories/blog/37748
  14. Astronauts on the ISS are hunting for the source of another mystery air leak. (2020). Astronauts on the ISS Are Hunting for the Source of Another Mystery Air Leak. https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/30/1009150/astronauts-iss-hunting-mystery-air-leak-micrometeoroids/
  15. NASA Technology Roadmaps. (2015). NASA Technology Roadmaps. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/2015_nasa_technology_roadmaps_ta_10_nanotechnology_final.pdf
  16. Ultra-Soft Electromagnetic Docking with Applications to In-Orbit Assembly. (2018). Ultra-Soft Electromagnetic Docking with Applications to In-Orbit Assembly. https://authors.library.caltech.edu/90231/1/Ultrasoft_Docking_IAC_2018.pdf
  17. Magnet-Based System for Docking of Miniature Spacecraft. (2007). Magnet-Based System for Docking of Miniature Spacecraft. https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/techbriefs/mechanics-and-machinery/1379
Tags
#ASTERIA #Artificial Intelligence #NASA #LETSCONNECT #SOFTWARE #HARDWARE #SpaceApps #Argentina #spaceappsb #Dockingsystem
Judging
This project was submitted for consideration during the Space Apps Judging process.