Spacecraft servicing devices and related assemblies, systems, and methods

A spacecraft servicing device, comprising:

• a body configured to be deployed from a host spacecraft;
• a thruster assembly coupled to the body, the thruster assembly configured to alter at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of a target spacecraft after being coupled to the target spacecraft;
• and
• a communication device configured to receive data relating to the at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the target spacecraft from a location remote from the spacecraft servicing device, wherein the spacecraft servicing device is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent the target spacecraft using only mechanisms of the host spacecraft, wherein the spacecraft servicing device lacks any systems for determining telemetry data relating the spacecraft servicing device, and wherein a control system of the spacecraft servicing device is configured only to utilize the thruster assembly to maintenance the target spacecraft and not to move the spacecraft servicing device to the location adjacent the target spacecraft due to the lack of the telemetry data.

A spacecraft servicing pod, comprising:

• a body configured to be deployed from a host spacecraft housing a plurality of spacecraft servicing pods at a location adjacent a target spacecraft;
• a coupling mechanism attached to the body and configured to couple the pod to the target spacecraft at the location adjacent the target spacecraft, the coupling mechanism comprising at least one movable coupling configured to rotate the body relative to the target spacecraft at a joint between the spacecraft servicing pod and the target spacecraft when the spacecraft servicing pod is coupled to the target spacecraft;
• and
• at least one spacecraft servicing component configured to perform at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft, the at least one spacecraft servicing component comprising at least one propulsion device positioned on a distal portion of a boom arm extending away from the body, the at least one propulsion device configured to alter at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the target spacecraft when the spacecraft servicing pod is coupled to the target spacecraft, wherein movement of the boom arm is configured to alter an orientation of the at least one propulsion device positioned on the boom arm about a first degree of freedom, and wherein rotation of the body relative to the target spacecraft at the joint between the spacecraft servicing pod and the target spacecraft is configured to alter the orientation of the at least one propulsion device positioned on the boom arm about a second degree of freedom.

A method of servicing a spacecraft, the method comprising:

• transferring a pod of a spacecraft servicing host device to the spacecraft with the spacecraft servicing host device;
• coupling the pod to the spacecraft while the pod is in contact with the spacecraft servicing host device;
• after being coupled to the spacecraft, altering at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the spacecraft with a thruster assembly of the pod;
• receiving data relating to the at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the spacecraft from a location remote from the pod with a communications device, wherein the pod lacks any systems for determining telemetry data relating to the at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the spacecraft;
• and
• based on the received data relating to the at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the spacecraft, further altering the at least one of an orbit, a velocity, or a momentum of the spacecraft with the thruster assembly of the pod.