This work is in support of the development and validation of technology required for future missions to service and refuel a satellite in space, allowing the reuse and extension of valuable hardware consisting of potentially hundreds of other spacecraft in the geosynchronous orbit. The experiment allows us to gather experimental data to allow the creation and correlation of mathematical models of the dynamical behavior of the hose in near-zero gravity environments.

The current state of the hardware is at TRL 4. By flying on the Parabolic Aircraft platform, the technology can be matured to TRL 5, in that the brassboard-level fidelity Hose will have flown in a relevant (microgravity) environment. It will provide understanding to true loads, deflections, and dynamic characteristics of the Hose in its flight operating environment.

The maturation of the Hose technology is an important part in the development flow of the SSCO project’s overall technology development plan, and a deadline of August 2013 is required for the results of this experiment.


This flight opportunity will be used to develop a dynamical model of the as-tested flexible hose. This model will be incorporated into Freespace, a NASA/GSFC developed high-fidelity dynamics and visualization package. Freespace is available as open-source software to the

There are three primary objectives for the parabolic aircraft test flight: (1) capture static load data for the Hose at different trajectory points, (2) capture static deflection/shape data for the Hose at different trajectory points, (3) capture dynamic Hose displacement data for subsequent modeling efforts.

The test configuration aboard the parabolic aircraft is designed such that flight trajectories can be mimicked by positioning and orienting the two ends of the Hose, which are mounted to force/torque sensors within an 80/20 framework. The hose fixture will be free-flying to isolate it from disturbance inputs from the aircraft. It will be tended (held and released) by two members of the team. A support structure will be used to support the payload during non-test phases.

Our organization is studying methods and developing technologies to refuel and repair satellites in space via robotic means. Before the FOP flight, we could not verify whether our flexible fuel hose and its robotic handling procedures would require a complex and expensive fuel nozzle tool, or exactly how the flexible hose would behave in the absence of gravity. With the data gathered during the flights, our technological understanding has matured. We now know the circumstances under which the fuel nozzle tool can be rotated and positioned to ensure safe handling of the fuel hose. This is an important step to developing a complete system design. Flying on this campaign was a logical and efficient way for the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office to collect data on the behavior of our flexible fuel hose regarding how it would act in space. Realizing this, we put a considerable amount of effort into the design and construction of our test hardware, aided by guidance and interaction with the Flight Opportunities Program. Thanks to these efforts, our hardware performed as expected during the flight. To our surprise, we did find that we had to make a change in the test procedure half-way through the set of flights to improve our data collection. Thanks to FOP offering multiple flights in the same campaign, we were able to reassess the test methodology and obtain better data by the conclusion of the flight campaign.

Prior attempts by our team to obtain the behavior characteristics of a flexible fuel hose were hampered by the presence of gravity or the damping of water. This flight represents the most direct way the behavioral data could be obtained in a manner that matches the way the hose would be operated in space. The Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center thanks the Flight Opportunities Program for this opportunity.