Drones in space

Astronauts with drone helpers
Credit: NASA/The Economist

Drones have been on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2006. Because the ISS is a microgravity environment, they have no need to generate lift to maintain position. However, they do need to generate thrust to move around. Drones currently in use generate thrust using CO2 canisters. Planned replacements will use battery powered motors to compress ambient air for thrust.

How are drones useful in space? Current & planned uses include:
3D maneuverable camera mount
virtual eyes for ground controllers
lost property tracker/finder
sound level checker



http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21666115-crew-space-station-will-soon-be-getting-new-factotum-astrobusybee

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/311.html / crew space station new factotum Earth drones experimental 22cm across Synchronised Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites SPHERES truncated rhombic dodecahedrons buzzing around International Space Station since 2006 new more advanced version Astrobee designed Ames Research Centre NASA laboratory Mountain View California Astrobee scheduled deployment 2017 30cm cube more complex SPHERES rely on beacons position positional information Astrobee computer vision orient itself navigate around powered propelled thrust space drone airborne space station free-fall appears to float with respect to the station’s walls need motors move itself around jets of carbon dioxide propel themselves canisters gas stored shipped station changed by the astronauts returned to Earth for refilling Astrobee compress air on board using battery power propulsion batteries steer several recharging docks astronauts are busy people new drone relieve them several routine tasks set of virtual eyes ground controllers station Chris Provencher Astrobee’s project manager astronauts regularly check sound levels noise damage the crew’s hearing full sound check two hours task easily automated Astrobee help keep station neat and tidy tracking down floated away proper places station’s managers radio-frequency identification RFID tags found go missing pressurised portion station looking for missing items RFID-tagged time-consuming Astrobee crew new drone flight controllers camcorders fixed arms high-definition camera controllers position /