System for the performance of activity in space

Abstract

A system for remotely controlled performance of unmanned extravehicular activity in outer space, such as satellite maintenance and repair. The system comprises an orbitable space vehicle having a worksite accessible from the exterior of the vehicle and remotely controlled means associated with the space vehicle worksite for securing at the worksite the equipment in space upon which extravehicular activity is to be performed. At least one servo actuated manipulator slave subsystem is located adjacent to the worksite for performing work there. That slave subsystem is operatively interconnected to a remote manipulator master subsystem. A bilateral force reflective position control subsystem provides the hand of the operator of the master subsystem in a natural way with a sense of feel which is proportional to the loads applied by the operator through the slave subsystem and to loads imposed by the remote environment through the slave subsystem. A sensory subsystem conveys in a natural way to the operator sensory responses such as sight, sound, vibration, temperature, and the like, of the remote environment in which entravehicular activity is to be performed. A tool kit is provided for use with the system.