MICE, a mechanical interface for removal
Mechanical interface for capture and end-of-life
What is MICE?
MICE is a (single-part) mechanical interface, developed in Spain by GMV in collaboration with AVS, designed to enable safe capture and removal of satellites at their end-of-life. MICE supports cooperative and non-cooperative capture by compatible grippers (e.g. CAT system) by establishing a firm grappling fixture on the equipped satellite
MICE is an open ICD, space qualified part adopted as ESA’s basline for ADR of the Copernicus Sentinel Expansion mission satellites.
For further information: If you have an application for MICE and would like more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact the team: [email protected].
Main features
Passive and durable single-part component.
Light (< 720 g) .and low impact installation.
Designed to withstand orbital conditions up to end-of-life.
Large load capacity up to 850N and 180 Nm.
Allows capture before contact.
Open ICD. Designed for interoperability with different capture concepts and gripper implementations.
MICE enables your satellite to be ready for safe, reliable, capture and removal at end-of-life.
MICE is designed to be installed on the spacecraft’s
LAR face within a cylindrical keep-out of zone of Ø250 mm. Once in place, it provides a robust and standardized grappling interface, allowing any compatible gripper or capture device to securely grab and manipulate the satellite.
MICE is a single-part mechanical interface that prepares your satellite for removal at EoL at:
▪ Low cost and installation impact.
▪ No impact on mission risks (fully passive and wide environmental compatibility).
- TLR-9
Four of the Copernicus satellites are already regulated by the ESA’s design-for-removal interface requirements document, and they are already being equipped with the equipment known as MICE, along with a series of navigation assistance devices.
