Photonics makes connections in space

NASA-Marshall is developing technology for automation of spacecraft orbital rendezvous and capture, using a video guidance sensor encompassing diode laser illumination, optics, and machine vision. Range, direction, and relative attitude of the passive spacecraft are in this way determined in real time. The guidance sensor uses diode lasers on the 'chase' vehicle to illuminate reflective surfaces on the target vehicle; the resulting pattern of reflective spots is then analyzed to derive the required docking data. (AIAA)