System and method for capturing space target

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12384562-B2
Application number	US-202318390259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2023
Priority date	Mar 24, 2022
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and a method for capturing a space target. The system includes a plurality of capturing devices, a delivery device, a launching device, and a deceleration and recovery device, each of the plurality of capturing devices is configured to be launched into a target orbit to capture a defunct space target, the delivery device is configured to deliver, along a preset delivery trajectory, each of the plurality of capturing devices to a first preset location in the launching device, the launching device is configured to launch each of the plurality of capturing devices located at the first preset location into the target orbit to capture the defunct space target, and the deceleration and recovery device is configured to decelerate each of the plurality of capturing devices after it is launched and flies a preset distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for capturing a space target, comprising a plurality of capturing devices, a delivery device, a launching device, and a deceleration and recovery device, wherein
each of the plurality of capturing devices is configured to be launched into a target orbit to capture a defunct space target;
the delivery device is configured to deliver, along a preset delivery trajectory, each of the plurality of capturing devices to a first preset location in the launching device;
the launching device is configured to launch each of the plurality of capturing devices located at the first preset location into the target orbit to capture the defunct space target; and
the deceleration and recovery device is configured to decelerate each of the plurality of capturing devices after the capturing device is launched and flies a preset distance,
wherein the capturing device comprises a head, at least one barb unit, a location unit, a first rope wound inside of the capturing device, a deceleration shaft, and a second rope wound on the deceleration shaft, wherein
the head is pointed for piercing and inserting into the defunct space target;
the barb unit is configured to prevent the defunct space target from falling off when the defunct space target is towed;
the location unit is configured to acquire real-time location of the capturing device to assist the capturing device in moving to the first preset location; and
the second rope is connected to the first rope, and the second rope decelerates a flight speed of the capturing device to zero by gradually unwinding from the deceleration shaft when the first rope is fully unwounded,
wherein the deceleration shaft further comprises a heating device, and the heating device is configured to heat the second rope to fuse the second rope when the defunct space target has been towed to a predetermined decay orbit.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein
the deceleration and recovery device is further configured to recover the capturing device into the launching device when the capturing device fails to hit the defunct space target.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises a first frame, a plurality of mounting brackets, a plurality pairs of deceleration shaft holes, a first transmission gear, a first driving mechanism connected to the first transmission gear, a plurality of power contacts, and a plurality of switch contacts, wherein
the plurality of mounting brackets are uniformly arranged on an upper side of the first frame, and each of the capturing devices is mounted on a corresponding one of the plurality of mounting brackets;
the plurality pairs of deceleration shaft holes are uniformly formed in the first frame in a manner that each pair of deceleration shaft holes are arranged on two lateral sides of the first frame respectively, and the deceleration shaft is rotatably installed within the corresponding pair of deceleration shaft holes;
a bottom of the first frame has an inverted T-shaped guide rail, and both transverse ends of the inverted T-shaped guide rail are respectively provided with a first transmission rack engaging with the first transmission gear;
the first driving mechanism is configured to rotate the first transmission gear to translate the first transmission rack, so that the plurality of capturing devices move along the preset delivery trajectory;
the plurality of power contacts are uniformly arranged on both sides of the first frame, and the plurality of power contacts provide electrical energy during the launching and deceleration recovery process of the capturing device; and
the plurality of switch contacts are uniformly arranged on one side of the first frame.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the launching device comprises a second frame, a launching chamber, a launching bracket, a second driving mechanism, a second transmission mechanism, a first elastic mechanism, a guide rail, a first travel switch, a second travel switch, and a conductive piece;
the launching chamber having a semi-cylindrical shape, and is placed within the second frame;
the launching bracket passes through the launching chamber, and the launching bracket is fixedly connected to the launching chamber;
the second driving mechanism is configured to drive the second transmission mechanism, wherein, when the capturing device has not yet been delivered to the first preset location, the second driving mechanism drives the second transmission mechanism so that the launching bracket and the launching chamber move downwards along the guide rail to the second preset location and compress the first elastic mechanism, and when the capturing device has been delivered to the first preset location, the second driving mechanism continues to drive the second transmission mechanism so that the first elastic mechanism is released and the launching bracket and the launching chamber move upwards along the guide rail under the action of the first elastic mechanism and launch the capturing device;
the first travel switch is configured to send a command to stop the transmission of the second transmission mechanism when the launching bracket and the launching chamber have moved down to the second preset location so that the launching bracket stops at the second preset location;
the second travel switch is configured to electrically connect with the switch contact point to send a command to stop the advancing movement of the capturing device when the capturing device has been advanced to the first preset location, so that the capturing device stops at the first preset location; and
the conductive piece is arranged on two sides of the second frame, and the conductive piece is electrically connected to the power contacts to supply electrical energy.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein
the second transmission mechanism comprises a second transmission gear and a second transmission rack engaged with the second transmission gear, and the second transmission gear has a semi-toothed structure.

6. The system according to claim 4 , wherein
the second transmission mechanism comprises a ratchet and a pawl, the ratchet is arranged inside the second transmission gear, and the pawl is connected to the second driving mechanism.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the deceleration and recovery device comprises an electromagnetic valve, a driving shaft, a second elastic mechanism wound on the driving shaft, a magnetic damper, and a third driving mechanism, wherein
the electromagnetic valve is configured to: stop working when the capturing device is delivered to the first preset location, allowing the second elastic mechanism to push the driving shaft to connect with the deceleration shaft, and attract the driving shaft to separate the driving shaft from the deceleration shaft after the capturing device is launched, wherein the driving shaft is connected to the deceleration shaft via a gear coupling;
the magnetic damper is configured to generate damping force to damp the gradual unwinding process of the first rope and the second rope is unwounded, so as to decelerate the capturing device; and
the third driving mechanism is connected to the magnetic damper, and is configured to pull the second rope so that the deceleration shaft rotate reversely, so as to recover the capturing device.

8. A method for capturing a space target, the method being applied to a system for capturing a space target, the system comprising a plurality of capturing devices, a delivery device, a launching device, and a deceleration and recovery device, wherein the method comprises:
delivering, by the delivery device, along a preset delivery trajectory, each of the plurality of capturing devices

Assignees

• Harbin Inst Technology

Inventors

• Guo Jinsheng
• Wu Fan
• Qiu Shi
• Chen Jian
• Wei Cheng
• Wang Hongxu

Classifications

• B64G1/646

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

• B64G1/1081 Primary

  for debris removal · CPC title

• F41H11/02 Primary

  Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) · CPC title