Orbital Express was a space mission managed by the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and a team led by engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The Orbital Express program was aimed at developing "a safe and cost-effective approach to autonomously service satellites in orbit".[1] The system consisted of two spacecraft: the ASTRO servicing satellite, and a prototype modular next-generation serviceable satellite; NEXTSat. The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 8 March 2007, aboard an Atlas V expendable launch vehicle.[2][3] The launch was part of the United States Air Force Space Test Program STP-1 mission.[4]
- ^ "Boeing Integrated Defense Systems - Orbital Express". Boeing. Archived from the original on 2006-05-12.
- ^ "Look Ma! No (Human) Hands!". NASA. March 5, 2007. Archived from the original on August 27, 2009.
- ^ "Orbital Express Launches Successfully". NASA. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14.
- ^ "Orbital Express Space Operations Architecture". DARPA. Archived from the original on 2007-03-13.