Satellite boom end effector
AssigneeMaxar Space LLC
InventorsMichael Freestone, Sean Dougherty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orbital satellite has a pair of multi-axis booms including both thrusters for course/attitude adjustment and an end effector for grappling payloads and manipulating other tools and objects. The satellite may launch with a primary payload affixed to a bus and one or more secondary payloads affixed to an ESPA ring. Once in orbit, the end effector may be used to grapple the primary and/or secondary payloads and rearrange them on the bus. In further aspects, the end effector may be used to make bus repairs or take measurements, or hold tools that are used to make bus repairs or take measurements.
Claims18
A satellite, comprising:
- a bus;
- a boom having a first end mounted to the bus, and a second end distal from the first end;
- a thruster mounted on the second end of the boom configured to provide thrust to the satellite, wherein the boom is configured to carry the thruster, the thruster facing in a first direction at the second end of the boom;
- and
- an end effector mounted on the second end of the boom configured to acquire objects, the end effector facing in a second direction opposing the first direction such that a propulsion stream exhausted from the thruster does not impact the end effector.
A satellite, comprising:
- a bus comprising components;
- a payload affixed to the bus;
- a boom having a first end mounted to the bus, and a second end distal from the first end;
- a thruster mounted on the second end of the boom configured to provide thrust to the satellite, wherein the boom is configured to carry the thruster;
- and
- an end effector mounted along a length of the boom, the end effector configured to grapple the components and payload, wherein in the end effector is mounted to face an opposite direction than a direction of a propulsion stream exhausted from the thruster.
A satellite, comprising:
- a bus;
- a boom having a first end mounted to the bus, and a second end distal from the bus;
- a thruster mounted on the second end of the boom configured to exhaust a propulsion stream providing thrust to the satellite, wherein the boom is configured to carry the thruster, the thruster facing in a first direction at the second end of the boom;
- and
- an end effector mounted on the second end of the boom, the end effector comprising grappling fingers configured to acquire a grappling fixture, and the end effector positioned at the second end of the boom, the end effector facing in a second direction opposing the first direction such that the propulsion stream exhausted from the thruster does not impact the end effector;
- wherein the grappling fixture is affixed to one or more of a primary payload, a secondary payload, an ESPA (evolved expendable launch vehicle (EELV) secondary payload adapter) ring, and a tool configured to affect repairs on the satellite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.