Quarried in California, the 300 square-foot, 75,000 pound, Gravity Offset Table arrives at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., May 12, 2012. Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

The
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Spacecraft Engineering Department’s
space robotics research facility recently took possession of a
one-of-a-kind 75,000 pound Gravity Offset Table (GOT) made from a single
slab of solid granite.

To
emulate the classical mechanics of physics found in space on full-scale
replica spacecraft on Earth requires not only a hefty amount of air to
‘float’ the object, but a precision, frictionless, large surface area
that will allow researchers to replicate the effects of inertia on
man-made objects in space.

“We
accomplish this by floating models of spacecraft and other resident
space objects on air bearings—similar to the dynamics of an upside-down
air hockey table,” said Dr. Gregory P. Scott, space robotics scientist.
“Based on the inertia of the ‘floating’ system, a realistic spacecraft
response can be measured when testing thrusters, attitude control
algorithms, and responses to contact with other objects.”

Currently,
the grappling, or capture, of spacecraft in orbit is accomplished by
specifically engineered pre-configured couplers and mating mechanisms.
To capture and service a ‘free-flying’ orbiting spacecraft that has no
conventional coupling mechanism, researchers must first be able to
demonstrate minimal rates of error in a cost effective and efficient
manner using many spacecraft configurations here on Earth.

Honed
by Precision Granite to federal ‘AAA’ specifications, the 20 feet by 15
feet, 1.5-foot thick single piece of granite is within +/- 0.0018
inches flat across its surface. The precision GOT will allow NRL
researchers to precisely simulate the frictionless motion of objects in
space and understand the dynamics of docking and servicing satellites
on-orbit—a function of increasing importance as rising launch costs and
the addition of new orbiting spacecraft can be offset by the repair or
updating of assets already in Earth orbit.

Precision honed to within +/-0.0018 inches tolerance across its surface, the Gravity Offset Table (shown right) will allow scientists to emulate the inertia of space in the laboratory using full-size spacecraft and robotic arms like the Front-End Robotic Enabling Near-Term Demonstration (FREND) arm pictured center. Photo: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

Quarried
from the Raymond Granite Quarry, Clovis, Calif., the 450 cubic-foot,
37.5 ton GOT slab is thought to be the largest, single slab, precision
granite table in the world with tolerances capable of allowing engineers
to simulate service of full-scale satellite spacecraft with significant
structural flexibility to a degree of accuracy unmatched by any other
space robotics facility.

Source: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory