Systems and methods for delivering, storing, and processing materials in space

A control system for facilitating transfer of materials in space, the control system comprising a first controller and a second controller, wherein:

• the first controller has instructions which, when executed:
• position a spacecraft in a first orbit, the spacecraft comprising a storage container;
• transfer the spacecraft to a second orbit;
• dock the spacecraft with a satellite in the second orbit;
• transfer material between the storage container and the satellite;
• and
• undock the spacecraft from the satellite;
• and
• the second controller has instructions which, when executed:
• deploy a flexible container from the satellite;
• and
• cause material from the spacecraft to be received in the flexible container.

A system for carrying out a space mission, the system comprising a satellite, a flexible container carried by the satellite and configured to deploy from a stowed configuration, and an unmanned spacecraft configured to operate in an extraterrestrial environment, the spacecraft comprising:

• a storage container configured to contain material;
• a first coupling structure carried on an exterior surface of the spacecraft, the first coupling structure comprising a plurality of connectors including a fluid connector and one or more of an electrical connector, a signal connector, or a mechanical connector positioned to couple the first coupling structure with a second coupling structure of the satellite;
• and
• a controller programmed with instructions that, when executed:
• dock the spacecraft with the satellite in an orbit using the first coupling structure;
• transfer material between the storage container and the satellite via the first coupling structure;
• and
• undock the spacecraft from the satellite.

A material storage and distribution system for a satellite, the system comprising:

• a flexible container configured to contain a material and to be carried by a satellite, the flexible container being changeable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in the stowed configuration, the flexible container is contained within the satellite, and in the deployed configuration, the flexible container extends away from the satellite;
• and
• an expulsion device configured to expel material from the flexible container;
• wherein
• the flexible container is configured to change to the deployed configuration when the flexible container is in an extraterrestrial environment.

A coupling system for transferring material between objects on orbit in space, the coupling system comprising:

• a first coupling structure configured to couple with a second coupling structure in space;
• a boom carrying the first coupling structure;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the first coupling structure;
• and
• one or more fluid transfer connectors carried by the first coupling structure.

A material storage and distribution system for a satellite, the system comprising:

• a flexible container configured to contain a material and to be carried by a satellite, the flexible container being changeable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in the stowed configuration, the flexible container is contained within the satellite, and in the deployed configuration, the flexible container extends away from the satellite;
• wherein
• the flexible container comprises at least one bulkhead configured to provide a plurality of interior volumes within the flexible container;
• and
• the flexible container is configured to change to the deployed configuration when the flexible container is in an extraterrestrial environment.

A material storage and distribution system, the system comprising:

• a satellite, wherein the satellite comprises a first coupling structure having a plurality of connectors including a fluid connector and one or more of an electrical connector, a signal connector, or a mechanical connector configured to align the first coupling structure with a second coupling structure of a spacecraft;
• and
• a flexible container configured to contain a material and to be carried by the satellite, the flexible container being changeable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein in the stowed configuration, the flexible container is contained within the satellite, and in the deployed configuration, the flexible container extends away from the satellite;
• wherein
• the flexible container is configured to change to the deployed configuration when the flexible container is in an extraterrestrial environment.

A coupling system for transferring material between a first object and a second object on orbit in space, the coupling system comprising:

• a first coupling structure configured to couple with a second coupling structure in space, wherein the first coupling structure comprises a first mounting plate configured to be attached to the first object, and wherein the second coupling structure comprises a second mounting plate configured to be attached to the second object;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the first mounting plate;
• and
• one or more fluid transfer connectors carried by the first mounting plate.

A coupling system for transferring material between a first object and a second object on orbit in space, the coupling system comprising:

• a first coupling structure configured to couple with a second coupling structure in space, wherein the first coupling structure comprises a first mounting element configured to be attached to the first object and the second coupling structure comprises a second mounting element configured to be attached to the second object;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the first mounting element, wherein the one or more mechanical docking connectors comprises a latch or a magnetic surface;
• and
• one or more fluid transfer connectors carried by the first mounting element.

A coupling system for transferring material between objects on orbit in space, the coupling system comprising:

• a first coupling structure configured to couple with a second coupling structure in space;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the first coupling structure, wherein the one or more mechanical docking connectors comprises a switchable magnet that can be selectively turned on or off;
• and
• one or more fluid transfer connectors carried by the first coupling structure.

A coupling system for transferring material between a first object and a second object on orbit in space, the coupling system comprising:

• a first coupling structure configured to be carried by the first object;
• a second coupling structure configured to be carried by the second object, the second coupling structure being configured to couple with the first coupling structure in space;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the first coupling structure;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the second coupling structure;
• one or more first female fluid transfer connectors carried by the first coupling structure;
• one or more first male fluid transfer connectors carried by the first coupling structure;
• one or more second female fluid transfer connectors carried by the second coupling structure;
• and
• one or more second male fluid transfer connectors carried by the second coupling structure;
• wherein at least one of the female fluid transfer connectors has a configuration that is complementary to at least one of the male fluid transfer connectors.

A coupling system for transferring material between a first object and a second object on orbit in space, the coupling system comprising:

• a first coupling structure configured to be carried by the first object;
• a second coupling structure configured to be carried by the second object, the second coupling structure being configured to couple with the first coupling structure in space;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the first coupling structure;
• one or more mechanical docking connectors carried by the second coupling structure;
• two or more female fluid transfer connectors carried by the first coupling structure;
• and
• two or more male fluid transfer connectors carried by the second coupling structure;
• wherein at least one of the female fluid transfer connectors has a configuration that is complementary to at least one of the male fluid transfer connectors.