SROC Spacecraft

Perform in-situ observations of Space Rider and docking for re-entering with the mothership.

To demonstrate in-orbit critical technologies related to proximity operations, including inspection & rendezvous/ docking, in terms of propulsion, GNC, imaging capabilities.​

Space Rider is a new transportation system in development by Thales-Alenia for ESA. SROC will be part of the Space Rider’s Cargo Bay.

The SROC mission goals are: to fly around the SR vehicle and perform observations in visible, near infrared and thermal infrared wavelengths and to validate critical small satellite operations and technologies such as deployment and retrieval capabilities from and to the cargo bay of the SR.

The system will perform a mission featuring Proximity Operations in the vicinity of the Space Rider (SR) vehicle before docking and re-entering Earth with the mothership.

The MPCD (Multi-Purpose CubeSat Dispenser) is a modified Tyvak 12U CubeSat Deployer designed to meet the needs of the Observe and Retrieve mission of the SROC project, i.e. to have a dispenser capable not only of releasing the satellite but also of retrieving it for re-entry to Earth, trying to exploit the flight heritage of the current deployer as much as possible. MPCD represents an interface between the launch vehicle, Space Rider, and the CubeSat, SROC, and would be located in the cargo bay of Space Rider (MPCB).

The SROC project aims at demonstrating the critical technologies required for CubeSat to successfully executing a rendezvous and docking in a safety-sensitive context. This 12U CubeSat is funded by the Italian Space Agency through ESA GSTP Fly element. The project is led by Tyvak as prime contractor and has successfully achieved the PDR in September 2024. At the beginning of phase C, to address the risks associated with RVD in a safety critical environment, a two-step approach was introduced, including an additional mission (Phase-I) for independent in orbit technology validation and de-risking for the second mission on Space Rider (Phase-II).

• PLATFORM - Tyvak