The Boeing Company

Thomas L Kessler

Leora Peltz

Glenn N Caplin

John W Behrens

Frank O Chandler

Jeffrey J Cronick

Daniel E Rivera

Robert V Frampton

Jamie J Childress

Systems, methods, and apparatus for a structural propellant for ion rockets (SPIR) are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a method for in-space propulsion of a spacecraft involves removing, by a removal device, a portion of a structure of the spacecraft. The method further involves feeding, by the removal device, the portion into a Hall thruster system. Further, the method involves utilizing, by the Hall thruster system, the portion as propellant to produce thrust. In one or more embodiments, the structure is an upper stage of the spacecraft. In at least one embodiment, the upper stage comprises at least one structural support and/or at least one upper stage housing. In some embodiments, the structure is manufactured from magnesium, bismuth, zinc, and/or indium.

Structural Propellant for ion rockets (SPIR)

An in-space spacecraft servicing system () includes a servicing spacecraft () and a propellant module (). The servicing spacecraft includes a client servicing system (), as well as navigation avionics () for independent flight operation and a servicing propellant tank (). The propellant module moves the servicing module from an upper stage drop off location and releases it in proximity to a client spacecraft () for a servicing mission. It has a propellant tank () with capacity for multiple missions and is used to refill the servicing spacecraft's propellant tanks between missions. Either or both the servicing spacecraft and the propellant module may have navigation avionics. The servicing spacecraft also has a universal docking adaptor () for different client spacecraft, and can convert a client spacecraft from non-cooperative to cooperative.

Spacecraft servicing vehicle with adaptors, tools and attachment mechanisms

Two part spacecraft servicing vehicle system with universal docking adaptor

Two part spacecraft servicing vehicle system with adaptors, tools, and attachment mechanisms

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Palos Verdes Estates, CA, United States of America

Thomas L Kessler