US 8,006,938 B2Granted

Spacecraft servicing vehicle with adaptors, tools and attachment mechanisms

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsJohn W. Behrens, Thomas L. Kessler, Leora Peltz, Jeffrey J. Cronick, Glenn N. Caplin, Frank O. Chandler, Robert V. Frampton, Daniel E. Rivera

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

An in-space spacecraft servicing system (10) includes a servicing spacecraft (22) and a propellant module (24). The servicing spacecraft includes a client servicing system (136), as well as navigation avionics (108) for independent flight operation and a servicing propellant tank (170). The propellant module moves the servicing module from an upper stage drop off location and releases it in proximity to a client spacecraft (16) for a servicing mission. It has a propellant tank (172) with capacity for multiple missions and is used to refill the servicing spacecraft's propellant tanks between missions. Either or both the servicing spacecraft and the propellant module may have navigation avionics. The servicing spacecraft also has a universal docking adaptor (70) for different client spacecraft, and can convert a client spacecraft from non-cooperative to cooperative.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A servicing spacecraft for performing multiple client spacecraft servicing missions comprising:

a guidance navigation and control system for independent flight operation during a client spacecraft servicing mission;
a propulsion system including a propellant tank for holding propellant to be used by the propulsion system for enabling independent flight operation of the servicing spacecraft;
and
a propellant transfer servicing system for transferring propellant from the propellant tank to a propellant tank of a client spacecraft, said propellant transfer servicing system comprising a robotic arm having multiple sections that are pivotably coupled to each other in series, a distal section of said multiple sections having a propellant transfer coupling end for coupling with a propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft, said robotic arm comprising a first motor that drives pivoting of said distal section relative to a next section of said multiple sections, said next section and said distal section being pivotably coupled to each other, and further comprises a second motor that drives pivoting of said next section relative to another section of said multiple sections, said next section and said another section being pivotably coupled to each other, and a controller for controlling the operation of said first and second motors and the transfer of propellant from said propellant tank of said servicing spacecraft to said propellant tank of said client spacecraft via said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm when said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm is coupled to said propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft.

1 more element

A servicing spacecraft for performing multiple client spacecraft servicing missions comprising:

a propulsion system including a propellant tank for holding propellant to be used by the propulsion system for enabling independent flight operation of the servicing spacecraft;
a universal docking adaptor for docking with any one of a plurality of client spacecraft;
and
a propellant transfer servicing system for transferring propellant from the propellant tank of the servicing spacecraft to a propellant tank of a client spacecraft, said propellant transfer servicing system comprising:
a robotic arm having multiple sections that are pivotably coupled to each other in series, a distal section of said multiple sections having a propellant transfer coupling end for coupling with a propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft;
a controller for controlling the transfer of propellant from said propellant tank of said servicing spacecraft to said propellant tank of said client spacecraft via said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm when said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm is coupled to said propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft;
and
a self-aligning adaptor attached to said distal section of said robotic arm and comprising a pair of fork members for aligning said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm with said propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft.

5 more elements

A servicing spacecraft for performing multiple client spacecraft servicing missions comprising:

a propulsion system including a propellant tank for holding propellant to be used by the propulsion system for enabling independent flight operation of the servicing spacecraft;
a universal docking adaptor for docking with any one of a plurality of client spacecraft;
and
a propellant transfer servicing system for transferring propellant from the propellant tank of the servicing spacecraft to a propellant tank of a client spacecraft, said propellant transfer servicing system comprising:
a robotic arm having multiple sections that are pivotably coupled to each other in series, a distal section of said multiple sections having a propellant transfer coupling end for coupling with a propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft;
a controller for controlling the transfer of propellant from said propellant tank of said servicing spacecraft to said propellant tank of said client spacecraft via said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm when said propellant transfer coupling end of said distal section of said robotic arm is coupled to said propellant transfer coupling of said client spacecraft;
and
a line-bracing tool attached to said distal section of said robotic arm and comprising a pair of hinged side brackets with cutouts for grasping said propellant transfer coupling of the client spacecraft.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/888,552Filed 23 Sep 2010 · division
Priority: 31 Mar 2006
Published: US 2011/0031352 A110 Feb 2011
Granted: 30 Aug 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

B64G 1/6464
Characterised by the means for engaging other vehicles: docking probes and receivers
B64G 1/4024
Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants: refuelling in space
B64G
Cosmonautics

Family

Application11/394,743Parent of this division · filed 31 Mar 2006
US 2011/0031352 A1Pre-grant publication · published 10 Feb 2011
US 7,823,837 B2Parent of this division
US 2007/0228220 A1Published application
US 8,006,938 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.