The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was launched in 1990 and has produced various scientific results since then. HST is receiving periodical maintenance by Space Shuttles crew members every few years. However the accident involving the Space Shuttle Columbia that occurred on February 1, 2003 resulted in the cancellation of the planned shuttle visit to HST. Since HST does not have a capability of safe disposal while its body is massive, part of spacecraft may come down in some populated area in the near future. Therefore, some kind of robotic mission is needed to extend HST's life and/or to remove HST from orbit. This report summarizes the study result that an unmanned robot vehicle named HDV (HST De-orbit Vehicle) that will be developed using currently being developed H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV) and JEM remote manipulator system can conduct the requested mission as follows: (1) launch by an expendable launcher; (2) automated rendezvous to HST; (3) capture HST using HDV's robot arm; (4) docking to HST; and (5) controlled atmospheric re-entry (safe disposal of HST). Study of HDV was conducted by the HST robotic service mission study team, being organized by members from Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, NEC Toshiba Space Systems, Ltd, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. The members of this study team are listed in Appendix-2.
Feasibility study of robotic servicing for the Hubble Space Telescope: Safe disposal of HST using an unmanned robot vehicle
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