Utilization of swarms for sample return and multipoint observation using inflatables

A system for swarm traffic management, the system comprising:

• a communications circuitry;
• a signaling circuitry;
• and
• a controller, the controller configured to:
• receive an objective;
• broadcast a return signal to all spacecraft in a swarm;
• receive priority data from all spacecraft in the swarm;
• determine a priority of each spacecraft in the swarm;
• create a priority list based on the priority of each spacecraft in the swarm;
• and
• dock with each spacecraft in the swarm in priority order.

A system for utilization of swarms for sample return and multipoint observation using inflatables, the system comprising:

• a communications circuitry;
• a signaling circuitry;
• an inflatable structure;
• wherein the inflatable structure further comprises a geometry selected from a group consisting of a bell flower, a cuttlefish, and a semisphere;
• and
• a first controller, the first controller configured to:
• receive a message from a target spacecraft indicating a need to be captured;
• acknowledge the message from the target spacecraft;
• receive sensitive data from the target spacecraft;
• determine a location on the inflatable structure for capturing the target spacecraft;
• signal the target spacecraft to the location;
• and
• capture the target spacecraft.