Back to results
US 10,882,646 B2Granted
Spacecraft systems and methods
AssigneeNanoRacks, LLC
InventorsMichael David Johnson, Mark David Rowley, Michael Desmond Lewis, J. Brockton Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments provide a spacecraft airlock system. Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for attaching space exposed payloads to a space station.
Claims20
A spacecraft enclosure, comprising:
- a berthing mechanism positioned around one end of the enclosure for selectively engaging the enclosure with a space station or with a transportation vehicle for transporting the enclosure proximate to the space station;
- a cylindrical sidewall adjoining the berthing mechanism of the enclosure;
- an endwall adjoining the cylindrical sidewall, opposite the berthing mechanism of the enclosure;
- an attachment mechanism positioned on the cylindrical sidewall or the endwall, and configured for releasably attaching vacuum exposed payloads to an exterior surface of the enclosure;
- and
- a grappling fixture positioned on the cylindrical sidewall or the endwall, and configured for engaging a robotic grappling arm of the space station for robotic manipulation of the enclosure, the grappling fixture being configured to engage the robotic grappling arm for disengaging the enclosure from the transportation vehicle in preparation for controllably positioning the enclosure on the space station.
3 more elements
A method for attaching an enclosure to a spacecraft, comprising the steps of:
- engaging a berthing mechanism positioned around one end of the enclosure to a space station, the enclosure comprising a cylindrical sidewall adjoining the berthing mechanism and an endwall adjoining the cylindrical sidewall, opposite the berthing mechanism of the enclosure;
- attaching vacuum exposed payloads to an exterior surface of the enclosure using an attachment mechanism, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism is positioned on the said cylindrical sidewall or said endwall;
- engaging a robotic grappling arm to a grappling fixture positioned on the cylindrical sidewall or the endwall for robotic manipulation of the enclosure;
- engaging the enclosure with a transportation vehicle for transporting the enclosure proximate to the space station;
- and
- engaging the grappling fixture of the enclosure with the robotic grappling arm of the space station for disengaging the enclosure from the transportation vehicle in preparation for controllably positioning the enclosure on said space station.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.