Removable orbital towing assistance device, and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10858124-B2
Application number	US-201515303898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2015
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transferring a space payload from a first orbit to a second orbit. Said method is characterized in that the space payload, moving about the first orbit, is attached to a removable orbital towing assistance device including at least one fuel pouch. Said method includes the steps of: —attaching (E1) an orbital transfer vehicle to the removable orbital towing assistance device; and —transferring (E2) the space payload and the removable orbital towing assistance device to the second orbit by means of the orbital transfer vehicle. The invention also relates to a removable orbital towing assistance device intended for a space payload and an orbital transfer vehicle and enabling direct supply of fuel to the vehicle and/or the space payload.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A unit comprising:
at least one space payload having at least one payload fastening device;
an orbital transfer vehicle having at least one transfer vehicle fastening device and at least one propulsion device; and
a removable orbital towing assistance device for the at least one space payload and for the orbital transfer vehicle, the removable orbital towing assistance device comprising:
a lenticular fuel pouch configured to hold pressurized fuel,
a ring-shaped frame to which is secured the lenticular fuel pouch, the ring-shaped frame having a ring-shaped rib extending from an inner surface of the ring-shaped frame; and
a direct fuel supply module connected to the at least one propulsion device of the orbital transfer vehicle, wherein:

the ring-shaped frame includes
a first fastening system configured to connect to the at least one space payload, and
a second fastening system configured to connect to the orbital transfer vehicle, and
the direct fuel supply module is configured to transfer fuel from the lenticular fuel pouch directly to the at least one propulsion device of the orbital transfer vehicle, wherein the direct fuel supply module includes an expansion valve to depressurize the fuel from the lenticular fuel pouch,

further wherein, the removable orbital towing assistance device is configured to secure in a removable manner between the at least one space payload and the orbital transfer via cooperation between the at least one payload fastening device of the space payload and the first fastening system of the removable orbital towing assistance device, and via the cooperation between the at least one transfer vehicle fastening device of the orbital transfer vehicle and the second fastening system of the removable orbital towing assistance device.

2. The unit according to claim 1 , comprising at least one solar electricity generator covering at least one portion of the ring-shaped frame.

3. The unit according to claim 2 , wherein the lenticular fuel pouch is positioned on the outside of the ring-shaped frame.

4. The unit according to claim 1 , wherein the lenticular fuel pouch includes a plurality of lenticular fuel pouches positioned on the outside of the ring-shaped frame and/or inside of the ring-shaped frame.

Assignees

• Centre Nat Etd Spatiales

Inventors

• Bultel Pascal

Classifications

• B64G1/6462

  characterised by the means for engaging other vehicles · CPC title

• B64G1/402

  Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants · CPC title

• B64G1/007 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64G1/646

  Docking or rendezvous systems (refuelling in space B64G1/4024) · CPC title

• B64G2001/1092

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic