Capture Payload Bay

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

Overview

What is CAT?

Robotics solutions for ADR and on orbit servicing.

CAT is a robotuc capture system, 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
Capable of performing compliant capture, braking, relocation and securing of both cooperative and uncooperative targets.
Customizable for other on-orbit servicing capture and manipulation tasks.

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

Partner

Main features

CAT avionics manage system control, monitoring, and communication with the servicer vehicle.

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

Compliant actuation of the robotic assembly ensures safe contact phases.

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HIghlights

How does CAT work?

CAT is a capture system for medium and large-sized satellites, capable of operating with both cooperative and un-cooperative targets. Its robotic assembly (parallel kinematics actuator + and gripper) can safely capture vehicles equipped with MICE interfaces. CAT avionics and its optical navigation system relieve the servicer vehicle of 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 (via clamping devices) phases. It is designed to work in close coordination with the 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 and uncooperative targets.

▪ Compatible with MICE mechanical interfaces.

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

▪ Customizable to different on-orbit servicing capture and manipulation tasks.

Product roadmap

Developed up to TRL-4.
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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