Spacecraft servicing devices and related assemblies, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434860-B2
Application number	US-202318225137-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2023
Priority date	Jul 21, 2017
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

Spacecraft servicing devices and related methods may include a propellant tank configured to store a propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of the target spacecraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spacecraft servicing pod, comprising:
a body including a coupling device;
a propellant tank configured to store at least one propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of a target spacecraft, the spacecraft servicing pod configured to supply at least a portion of the at least one propellant from the propellant tank to the target spacecraft during at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft with the coupling device, the spacecraft servicing pod configured to be retrieved from a selected orbit in space with a host spacecraft and to be allocated to a target spacecraft in order to supply the target spacecraft with the at least a portion of the at least one propellant of the propellant tank of the spacecraft servicing pod; and
a propulsion device coupled to the body for maneuvering the spacecraft servicing pod, wherein the propulsion device is coupled to the body by a boom arm, the boom arm coupled to the body at a location proximate the coupling device.

2. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , wherein the spacecraft servicing pod is configured, when coupled to the target spacecraft, to supply the at least one propellant to the target spacecraft to alter at least one of an orbit or a velocity of the target spacecraft without refueling the target spacecraft.

3. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , wherein the boom arm is configured to rotate relative to the body and to rotate at least partially about the coupling device.

4. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , wherein the coupling device is configured to modify the target spacecraft in order to place the propellant tank in fluid communication with a propulsion device of the target spacecraft.

5. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , wherein the spacecraft servicing pod is configured to modify the target spacecraft in order to place the propellant tank in fluid communication with the target spacecraft.

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

7. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 6 , wherein the expandable docking mechanism comprises a distal end having a barb for coupling to the target spacecraft.

8. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , wherein the propellant tank is configured to act as an external replacement tank for the target spacecraft.

9. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , further comprising a mating adapter for coupling the propellant tank to a fuel system of the target spacecraft.

10. The spacecraft servicing pod of claim 1 , further comprising a regulator for controlling a pressure of the at least one propellant supplied to a fuel system of the target spacecraft from the propellant tank.

11. A mission extension pod comprising:
a body;
a coupling device on the body for docking and securing the body to a target spacecraft to be serviced;
a propellant tank, the propellant tank configured to store at least one propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of the target spacecraft, the mission extension pod configured to supply at least a portion of the at least one propellant from the propellant tank to the target spacecraft during at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft, wherein the propellant tank is configured to act as an external replacement tank for the target spacecraft to service the target spacecraft;
a mating adapter for coupling the propellant tank to a fuel system of the target spacecraft, wherein the mating adapter is separate from the coupling device; and
a propulsion device coupled to the body by a boom arm and for maneuvering the mission extension pod, the boom arm coupled to the body at a location proximate the coupling device.

12. The mission extension pod of claim 11 , wherein the mission extension pod lacks a propulsion device for independently moving the mission extension pod.

13. The mission extension pod of claim 11 , wherein the coupling device comprises a spear-shaped expandable docking mechanism, and wherein the mating adapter for coupling the propellant tank to the fuel system of the target spacecraft is separate from the spear-shaped expandable docking mechanism.

14. A mission extension pod comprising:
a body;
a coupling device on the body;
a propellant tank, the propellant tank configured to store at least one propellant and to be placed into fluid communication with a portion of a target spacecraft, the mission extension pod configured to supply at least a portion of the at least one propellant from the propellant tank to the target spacecraft during at least one servicing operation on the target spacecraft while being coupled to the target spacecraft; and
a propulsion device coupled to the body for maneuvering the mission extension pod, wherein the propulsion device and the coupling device are positioned on the same side of the body.

15. The mission extension pod of claim 14 , wherein the propulsion device is configured to rotate at least partially around the coupling device.

16. A method of supplying a propellant to a target spacecraft with one or more mission extension pods, the method comprising:
flying the one or more mission extension pods with a propulsion device, the one or more mission extension pods comprising at least one spacecraft servicing component from an orbit in space to the target spacecraft;
coupling the one or more mission extension pods to the target spacecraft with a coupling device, wherein the propulsion device and the coupling device are positioned on the same side of at least one of the one or more mission extension pods; and
supplying at least a portion of a propellant from a propellant tank of the one or more mission extension pods to a propulsion system of the target spacecraft via a fluid connection to fluid channels of the propulsion system that is separate from the coupling between the one or more mission extension pods and the target spacecraft.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising moving the one or more mission extension pods in space with the propulsion system.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein coupling the one or more mission extension pods to the target spacecraft comprises capturing the target spacecraft with a spear-shaped expandable docking mechanism, and wherein the fluid connection to the fluid channels of the propulsion system is separate from the spear-shaped expandable docking mechanism.

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Nicholson James Garret
• Meyer Thomas Fred
• Guadagnoli Daniel

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