Space Systems/loral, LLC

Albert L Weitzel

Varouj G Baghdasarian

Andrew E Turner

A system includes at least two spacecraft disposed together for launch by a launch vehicle. In a launch configuration, a second spacecraft is mechanically coupled with the first spacecraft by way of an inter-spacecraft coupling arrangement (ISCA). The system is configured to be deployed following injection into a first orbit by the launch vehicle, while the second spacecraft is mechanically coupled with the first spacecraft. The first spacecraft includes a thruster configured to execute an orbit transfer maneuver from the first orbit to a second orbit, the thruster delivering thrust along a thrust vector. In an on-orbit configuration, the ISCA is switchable between a first mode that permits rotation of the first spacecraft with respect to the second spacecraft about a first axis of rotation that is approximately parallel with the thrust vector and a second mode that prevents rotation of the first spacecraft with respect to the second spacecraft.

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Milpitas, CA, United States of America

Albert L Weitzel