Airbus Defence and Space Sas

Dominique Poncet

Cyril Tourneur

René Cheynet De Beaupre

Serge Guyot

Christophe Prud Hon

A system and method for transferring a satellite from an initial orbit into a mission orbit. The method includes anchoring to the satellite of an external unit having a tank containing a reserve of propellants. The system includes an autonomous spacecraft having an electric propulsion module and a small internal reserve of propellants, located in a parking orbit close to the initial orbit. The spacecraft with the external unit attached to the satellite is docketed in an initial orbit, to produce a fluidic connection of the propellant tank of the external unit to the propulsion module of the spacecraft. The external unit and satellite is transferred into the mission orbit by the electric propulsion module of the spacecraft supplied with propellants directly from the external unit, thereby releasing the satellite into the mission orbit.

Method and system for transferring a satellite from an initial orbit into a mission orbit

Disclosed is a space vehicle, such as a satellite, the vehicle including: at least one equipment-carrying module for carrying equipment of the vehicle; at least three posts extending at least partially in the same longitudinal direction and on the periphery of the equipment-carrying module, each post being provided with at least one releasable locking device; and a reinforcing structure which rigidly connects each post transversely to at least two other posts.

Space vehicle comprising posts for forming a stack, stack comprising at least two such vehicles placed in a launcher, and method for releasing the vehicles

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Toulouse, France

Dominique Poncet