Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Direct to facility capture and release
- Patent Title (中): 直接到设备捕获和释放
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Application No.: US13706956Application Date: 2012-12-06
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Publication No.: US08967548B2Publication Date: 2015-03-03
- Inventor: Jonathan Andrew Goff , Michel Edward Loucks , Kirk David Dameron
- Applicant: Jonathan Andrew Goff , Michel Edward Loucks , Kirk David Dameron
- Applicant Address: US CO Broomfield
- Assignee: Altius Space Machines
- Current Assignee: Altius Space Machines
- Current Assignee Address: US CO Broomfield
- Agent Thomas J. Lavan
- Main IPC: B64G1/64
- IPC: B64G1/64 ; B64G1/22 ; B64G1/24 ; B64G1/00

Abstract:
A method for delivering a payload to a space facility is provided. The method includes detecting the relative position and velocity of a launch vehicle stage, the launch vehicle stage including the payload and one or more thrusters. The method also includes providing guidance information to the launch vehicle stage. The launch vehicle stage does not include a relative navigation system. In response to receiving the guidance information, the method further includes activating one or more thrusters corresponding to the guidance information, and guiding a capture head of a boom into capture proximity to the payload. One end of the boom is coupled to the space facility and the other end of the boom is coupled to the capture head. The method also includes capturing the payload, removing any residual relative velocity of the payload relative to the space facility, and moving the captured payload to the space facility.
Public/Granted literature
- US20130140403A1 Direct to facility capture and release Public/Granted day:2013-06-06
Information query