11 Facts About TriDAR

1.

TriDAR, or Triangulation and LIDAR Automated Rendezvous and Docking, is a relative navigation vision system developed by Neptec Design Group and funded by the Canadian Space Agency and NASA.

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2.

TriDAR made its inaugural demonstration space flight on board Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-128 mission, launched on 28 August 2009.

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3.

On STS-128, TriDAR provided astronauts with real-time guidance information during rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station.

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4.

TriDAR was tested for the first time in Space on board Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission to the ISS.

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5.

Once in range of the 3D sensor, TriDAR automatically determined bearing and range to the ISS.

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6.

TriDAR was again carried on board Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station.

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7.

The TriDAR operated during shuttle rendezvous with the ISS, and acquired useful data up till the shuttle R-bar Pitch Maneuver.

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8.

TriDAR was on board Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station.

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9.

TriDAR sensor is a hybrid 3D camera that combines auto-synchronous laser triangulation technology with laser radar in a single optical package.

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10.

TriDAR can be used for rendezvous and docking, planetary landing, rover navigation, site and vehicle inspection.

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11.

Once the rover arrived at its destination, TriDAR was used to acquire high resolution 3D images of the surrounding area, searching for ideal drill sites to obtain lunar samples.

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