Roving geosynchronous orbit satellite maintenance system
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Corporation
InventorEdward J. Hujsak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A satellite maintenance system for satellite stations orbiting in the geosynchronous corridor comprising a roving satellite maintenance vehicle capable of operating autonomously in the geosynchronous corridor and containing replacement hardware in modular form by which maintenance operation can be made on the satellite station by the exchange of one module for another thereby repairing or upgrading the hardware in the satellite station to prolong its useful life. The maintenance vehicle is capable of operating in the corridor for prolonged periods of time in a standby mode and capable of proceeding, on command, to the satellite station to perform the maintenance function automatically.
Claims4
A system for servicing orbiting satellite stations comprising,
- a maintenance vehicle capable of orbiting in the geosynchronous corridor and having means for rendezvousing and berthing with said satellite on command from another source,
- means in said vehicle for replacing parts of said satellite with parts from said vehicle when said vehicle is berthed with said satellite for repair and maintenance of said satellite, said parts of said orbiting satellite are operating hardware packed in modules similar to the module in said orbiting satellite, and
- a rotatable circular cradle with said modules located in said cradle, said vehicle further including means for positioning an empty position in said cradle adjacent said orbiting satellite for removing a module to be replaced and rotating said cradle so that a module is juxtaposed the now empty position in the satellite and for ejecting a new module into said satellite.
A system for servicing an orbiting satellite station having a central section with its hardware for performing its function in orbit all in modules,
- a cylindrical maintenance vehicle capable of orbiting in the geosynchronous corridor and having means for rendevous and berthing with said satellite on command, the configuration of said maintenance vehicle being compatable with the central section of said satellite station,
- a circular cradle means located at each end of said maintenance vehicle and containing modules identical in configuration to the modules in the satellite station,
- said cradle being rotatable about the central axis of said maintenance vehicle and containing equipment in all but one such equipment slot, and
- means for positioning the empty equipment slot in said cradle adjacent the module to be replaced in said satellite, for removing said module to be replaced into said empty equipment slot, indexing said cradle so that the replacement module is juxtaposed the now empty position in said satellite, and for ejecting the replacement module into said satellite, whereby said maintenance vehicle is then disconnected from said satellite station and returned to its own orbit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.