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US 12,434,860 B2Granted
Spacecraft servicing devices and related assemblies, systems, and methods
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsJames Garret Nicholson, Thomas Fred Meyer, Daniel Guadagnoli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Spacecraft servicing devices and related methods may include a propellant tank configured to store a propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of the target spacecraft.
Claims18
A spacecraft servicing pod, comprising:
- a body including a coupling device;
- a propellant tank configured to store at least one propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of a target spacecraft, the spacecraft servicing pod configured to supply at least a portion of the at least one propellant from the propellant tank to the target spacecraft during at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft with the coupling device, the spacecraft servicing pod configured to be retrieved from a selected orbit in space with a host spacecraft and to be allocated to a target spacecraft in order to supply the target spacecraft with the at least a portion of the at least one propellant of the propellant tank of the spacecraft servicing pod;
- and
- a propulsion device coupled to the body for maneuvering the spacecraft servicing pod, wherein the propulsion device is coupled to the body by a boom arm, the boom arm coupled to the body at a location proximate the coupling device.
1 more element
A mission extension pod comprising:
- a body;
- a coupling device on the body for docking and securing the body to a target spacecraft to be serviced;
- a propellant tank, the propellant tank configured to store at least one propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of the target spacecraft, the mission extension pod configured to supply at least a portion of the at least one propellant from the propellant tank to the target spacecraft during at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft, wherein the propellant tank is configured to act as an external replacement tank for the target spacecraft to service the target spacecraft;
- a mating adapter for coupling the propellant tank to a fuel system of the target spacecraft, wherein the mating adapter is separate from the coupling device;
- and
- a propulsion device coupled to the body by a boom arm and for maneuvering the mission extension pod, the boom arm coupled to the body at a location proximate the coupling device.
3 more elements
A mission extension pod comprising:
- a body;
- a coupling device on the body;
- a propellant tank, the propellant tank configured to store at least one propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of a target spacecraft, the mission extension pod configured to supply at least a portion of the at least one propellant from the propellant tank to the target spacecraft during at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft;
- and
- a propulsion device coupled to the body for maneuvering the mission extension pod, wherein the propulsion device and the coupling device are positioned on the same side of the body.
2 more elements
A method of supplying a propellant to a target spacecraft with one or more mission extension pods, the method comprising:
- flying the one or more mission extension pods with a propulsion device, the one or more mission extension pods comprising at least one spacecraft servicing component from an orbit in space to the target spacecraft;
- coupling the one or more mission extension pods to the target spacecraft with a coupling device, wherein the propulsion device and the coupling device are positioned on the same side of at least one of the one or more mission extension pods;
- and
- supplying at least a portion of a propellant from a propellant tank of the one or more mission extension pods to a propulsion system of the target spacecraft via a fluid connection to fluid channels of the propulsion system that is separate from the coupling between the one or more mission extension pods and the target spacecraft.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.