Wigbert Fehse

Wigbert Fehse (born December 4, 1937) is a German engineer and researcher in the area of automatic space navigation, guidance, docking, berthing.

Biography

Wigbert Fehse was born in Berlin. He studied mechanics at the Technical University of Berlin (Germany), where he received his master degree in 1965. In 1972, he conferred a doctor's degree ("summa cum laude") in the field of "combined hydrostatic bearings functioning as friction-free bearings in navigation systems" ["Untersuchungen über das kombinierte hydrostatische Staukammerlager als reibungsfreie Lagerung in Navigationsinstrumenten", dissertation, Berlin 1972] from the Aerospace Institute of the Technical University of Berlin.In addition, in 1965 to 1973, he was responsible for the development of gyro stabilizer at Teldix (now Rockwell Collins, Inc.) in Heidelberg (Germany). In the following years he became formerly Head of the Navigation and Guidance Section in the Technical Center of the European Space Agency (ESA) at Noordwijk, The Netherlands, and was seen as ESA's leading rendezvous expert. There, he developed basic principles and technologies for automated rendezvous and docking of spacecraft, which are being applied in international space projects, such as the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) which provides supply services to the International Space Station (ISS). Since his retirement in 2002 Fehse supports European space companies as a consultant and adviser in automatic rendezvous and docking/berthing issues. Furthermore, he continues to give specific lectures at universities and international institutes.

Fehse is internationally known for his work in the area of "automated rendezvous and docking/berthing of spacecraft". In addition to his numerous publications, his handbook "Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft" [W. Fehse: "Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft", Cambridge University Press, 2003, ISBN 0 521 82492 3] has been widely recognized. At present (November 2008), his handbook is being translated into the Chinese language for publication in 2009.

Wigbert Fehse lives with his wife Ulla in Nideggen (Germany) and Lisse (The Netherlands). He has two children.

Publications

*"Theoretische und experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Tragkraft des einreihigen hydrostatischen Radiallagers mit Staukammerring", Forschungsbericht des Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMwF - FB W67-09.
*W. Auer, W. Fehse, A. Wand: "Testing of Gyros and Accelerometers with Hydrostatic Gas Bearings", AGARD- Lecture Series XXX, 1968
*"Konstruktive und Technologische Aspekte bei der Entwicklung eines Kreiselmotors mit hydraulischer Gaslagerung", Forschungsbericht BMwF -FB W68-31
*"Anwendung von Gaslagern in Kreiselgeräten", Z. Feinwerktechnik 1969/4/ S. 145-155
*W. Auer, W. Fehse, F. Unger, H. Wehde: "Gasgelagerte Kreisel als kostengünstige inertiale Sensoren für Navigationsgeräte kurzer Bereitschaftszeit", DGON - Vierteljahresmitteilungen II/71
*"Untersuchungen über das kombinierte hydrostatische Staukammerlager als reibungsfreie Lagerung in Navigationsinstrumenten", dissertation, Berlin 1972
* W. Fehse, G. Ortega:"Operator monitoring and support system for rendezvous and docking", Paper ID: 2a004, SpaceOps98: Proceedings, Fifth International Symposium on Space Mission Operations and Ground Data Systems, 1998
*M. Cislaghi, W. Fehse, D. Paris, F. Ankersen: "The ATV Rendezvous Pre- Development Programme (ARP)", Proceedings of the 22nd AAS Guidance and Control Conference, Beckenridge, Colorado, 1999
*"Automated rendezvous and docking of spacecraft", Cambridge aerospace series 16, Cambridge University Press, 2003, ISBN 0 521 82492 3

References

Weblinks

* [http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521089869 Handbook Automated Rendezvous and Docking of Spacecraft] (englisch)

Persondata
NAME=Fehse, Wigbert
BIRTHDAY=Dezember 4, 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH=Berlin