Capture Payload Bay

https://youtu.be/2IVgv-iAlTQ

Overview

What is CAT?

Robotics solutions for ADR, on orbit servicing and refuelling.

CAT is an active robotic payload, developed in Spain by GMV in collaboration with AVS, designed to capture medium and large size uncooperative and cooperative satellites equipped with a MICE mechanical interface:

Self-contained payload, designed to fit within a Launcher Adapter Ring.
Equipped with an optical navigation system to support close proximity operations
Able to perform compliant capture, braking, relocation and securing of cooperative and uncooperative targets.
Customizable to other in orbit servicing capture and manipulation tasks.

For further information: please contact the team: [email protected]

Partner

Main features

CAT system control, monitoring and communication to the servicer vehicle is managed by CAT avionics.

Accurate and robust relative optical navigation in support of capture and close proximity operations.

Compliant actuation of the robotic assembly for safe contact phases.

More information

HIghlights

How does CAT work?

CAT is the capture payload for medium and large-size satellites, working either with cooperative or un-cooperative target satellites. Its robotic assembly (parallel kinematics actuator + gripper) can safely capture vehicles equipped with MICE interfaces. CAT avionics and optical navigation system relieve the servicer vehicle from lower-level capture control tasks and provide reliable status and pose estimation information to the vehicle.

CAT is able to cope with capture, rigidisation/braking relocation and securing (by means of clamping devices) phases. It is designed to closely cooperate with servicing vehicle and mission control during proximity operations, target capture and release.

CAT is a self-contained capture payload

Able to perform compliant capture, relocation and securing of cooperative or uncooperative targets.

▪ Compatible with MICE mechanical interfaces.

▪ Equipped with an optical navigation system to support close proximity operations.

▪ Customizable to different in orbit servicing capture and manipulation tasks.

Product roadmap

Developed up to TRL-4.
Modular fluidic interface engineering model under development (TRL-5/6 in 2026). Handling green propellants.
ASSIST Engineering model under development (TRL-5/6 in 2027).
TRL-6 by Q1 2027.
TRL-9 by 2028/2029

Space Safety

The Zero Debris Charter

GMV is registered as organization signatory in the ESA Zero Debris Charter´s community.

The Zero Debris approach is ESA’s ambitious update to its space debris mitigation requirements, building on over a decade of collaborative work to achieve debris neutrality by 2030 through new technologies. Complementing this, the Zero Debris Charter is a global, community-driven initiative developed by multiple space actors, outlining guiding principles and concrete targets to collectively reach zero debris by 2030.

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