Capture/berthing system for spacecraft

Details Capture/berthing system for spacecraft Capture/berthing system for spacecraft

B - Operations, Transporting

64

G

B64G 1/64 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 2065356

A method and apparatus for joining vehicles such as spacecraft is disclosed that utilizes a capture and berthing technique. The coup- ling apparatus comprises a first coupling unit (12) having a general- ly rigid extensible structure (34) that is mountable to a first spacecraft (14) and a second coupling unit (16) having a probe-like structure (80) mountable to a second spacecraft (18) which is cooperable with the extensible structure (34) to effect ve- hicle coupling. The first and second spacecraft are maneuvered so as to generally align the coupling appara- tus thereon, after which the extensi- ble structure (34) is extended to en- gage and capture the probe-like structure (80). Following capture of the second coupling unity by the ex- tensible structure (34), the extensi- ble structure (34) is subsequently re- tracted to effect berthing of the first and second spacecraft. Once the spacecraft coupling units have been captured and berthed in the forego- ing manner, they can be structurally joined by appropriate coupling apparatus.

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