US 12,722,809 B2Granted

Spacecraft that provides operating resources for externally docked modules

AssigneeRogue Space Systems Corporation

InventorBarbara Ann Plante

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Abstract

The method and the system of this invention center around the innovative concept of an orbit-independent spacecraft comprised of a physical structure that provides multiple docking devices placed in a spatial relationship and orientation on the exterior of the spacecraft. The docking devices provide a standard interface to the spacecraft by which to attach and detach modular components (payloads). Payloads to be docked to the spacecraft have identical docking devices as part of their physical assemblies. A payload that has been launched into space is navigated towards the spacecraft using a transfer vehicle. Payload and spacecraft docking devices are brought into physical contact where internal locking mechanisms create a secure attachment of the payload to the spacecraft. Physical connections within the payload and spacecraft docking devices are made, allowing the payload to access bus capabilities such as electrical power, data communications, sensor readings, and thermal management from the spacecraft.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A spacecraft structure comprising:

one or more trusses or platforms configured to host a plurality of components, payloads, and modules at various docking locations, each truss or platform having one or more main internal physical conduits that are configured to provide power distribution infrastructure, data communications links, and connections to available spacecraft resources to the plurality of components, payloads, and modules, and wherein each main internal physical conduit connects to one or more side conduits and terminates at the various docking locations;
a plurality of spacecraft docking devices present at the various docking locations on the one or more spacecraft trusses or platforms and configured to provide standard attachment and resource interfaces, to attach and detach to the plurality of components, payloads, and modules, to connect the plurality of components, payloads, and modules via one or more spacecraft docking device connections to the one or more internal physical conduits, and to provide fuel, power, external and on-platform data communications, sensor readings, thermal management and available spacecraft resources to the plurality of components, payloads, and modules via the spacecraft docking device connections to the one or more internal physical conduits of the one or more spacecraft trusses or platforms, wherein the plurality of components, payloads, and modules each have a corresponding docking device configured to attach to and detach from one or more of the plurality of spacecraft docking devices located on the one or more trusses or platforms.

A modular spacecraft system comprising:

one or more trusses or platforms configured to host a plurality of modular components, payloads, and modules at various docking locations, each truss or platform having one or more main internal physical conduits that are configured to provide power distribution infrastructure, data communications links, and connections to available spacecraft resources to the plurality of modular components, payloads, and modules, and wherein each main internal physical conduit connects to one or more side conduits and terminates at the various docking locations;
a plurality of truss or platform docking devices present at the various docking locations on the one or more spacecraft trusses or platforms and configured to provide standard attachment and resource interfaces, to attach and detach to the plurality of modular components, payloads, and modules, to connect the plurality of modular components, payloads, and modules via one or more truss or platform docking device connections to the one or more internal physical conduits, and to provide fuel, power, external and on-platform data communications, sensor readings, thermal management and available spacecraft resources to the plurality of modular components, payloads, and modules via truss or platform docking device connections to the one or more internal physical conduits of the one or more spacecraft trusses or platforms, wherein the plurality of modular components, payloads, and modules each have a corresponding docking device configured to attach to and detach from one or more of the plurality of truss or platform docking devices.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.