Spacecraft servicing devices and related assemblies, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12415622-B2
Application number	US-202318206592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2023
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

Spacecraft servicing devices or pods and related methods may include a body configured to be deployed from a host spacecraft at a location adjacent a target spacecraft and at least one spacecraft servicing component configured to perform at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft. The spacecraft servicing device may include a thruster assembly coupled to a boom arm, where the boom arm is configured to alter an orientation of the thruster assembly as the boom arm is rotated about the spacecraft body and a docking device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spacecraft servicing device, comprising:
a spacecraft body;
a docking device coupled to the spacecraft body, the docking device for coupling the spacecraft servicing device to a target spacecraft;
a boom arm coupled to the spacecraft body; and
a thruster assembly coupled to a distal portion of the boom arm, the thruster assembly configured to maneuver at least one of the target spacecraft or the spacecraft body, the boom arm configured to alter an orientation of the thruster assembly relative to the spacecraft body as the boom arm is rotated about the spacecraft body and the docking device, wherein the boom arm is coupled to the spacecraft body at a rotatable coupling on the spacecraft body.

2. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 1 , wherein the boom arm is coupled to the spacecraft body at a location adjacent to the docking device.

3. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 2 , wherein the boom arm is configured to rotate about the rotatable coupling and at least partially about the docking device.

4. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 1 , wherein the docking device comprises an expandable docking mechanism coupled to the spacecraft body.

5. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 4 , where the expandable docking mechanism exhibits a spear shape with a distal end configured to be received in an engine of the target spacecraft.

6. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 4 , wherein the spacecraft servicing device is configured to engage the expandable docking mechanism with the target spacecraft after being positioned by a host spacecraft.

7. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 4 , wherein the expandable docking mechanism comprises one or more expandable portions configured to secure the expandable docking mechanism to the target spacecraft.

8. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 1 , further comprising two solar arrays extending from either side of the spacecraft body.

9. The spacecraft servicing device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more transceiver antennas positioned on the boom arm.

10. A spacecraft servicing device, comprising:
a spacecraft body;
a docking mechanism coupled to the spacecraft body, the docking mechanism for coupling the spacecraft servicing device to a target spacecraft;
a boom arm rotatably coupled to the spacecraft body; and
a thruster assembly coupled to a distal portion of the boom arm, the thruster assembly configured to maneuver at least one of the target spacecraft or the spacecraft body, the thruster assembly comprising at least one thruster, the boom arm configured to alter the thruster assembly relative to the spacecraft body as the boom arm is rotated about the spacecraft body and at least partially about the docking mechanism.

11. A method of servicing a spacecraft, the method comprising:
engaging a target spacecraft with a servicing device at a coupling mechanism of the servicing device;
rotating a thruster assembly coupled to a distal portion of a boom arm of the servicing device at least partially about the coupling mechanism of the servicing device; and
maneuvering at least one of the target spacecraft or the servicing device with the thruster assembly of the servicing device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising extending the coupling mechanism of the servicing device comprising an extendable lance to the target spacecraft to engage the target spacecraft.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising positioning the servicing device proximate to the target spacecraft with a host spacecraft.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising releasing the servicing device from the host spacecraft after the servicing device is coupled to the target spacecraft.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising engaging the target spacecraft with one or more expandable portions of the coupling mechanism of the servicing device.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising extending solar arrays from one or more sides of the servicing device.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising latching the thruster assembly and the boom arm in a retracted position with a latching mechanism.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising positioning the coupling mechanism and the boom arm on the same side of the servicing device.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving one or more signals with one or more transceiver antennas positioned on the boom arm.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising configuring the servicing device to only comprise the thruster assembly on the boom arm while lacking any additional thruster assemblies.

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Nicholson James Garret
• Treachler Daniel Carl
• Ortiz Oliver Benjamin
• Reavill James Dulin
• Hekman Benjamin Michael
• Sullivan Robert Bryan
• Niederstrasser Carlos Guillermo
• Lieberbaum Mark
• Glogowski Michael Joseph
• Llorens William A
• Chow Kenneth Siu-Kin
• Cipollo Peter Michael

Classifications

• B64G1/646 Primary

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

• B64G1/402

  Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants · CPC title

• B64G1/40

  Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems · CPC title

• B64G1/6462 Primary

  characterised by the means for engaging other vehicles · CPC title

• B64G1/26

  using jets · CPC title