The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 18, 2013
Filed:
Feb. 09, 2011
Applicant:
Ulrich Knirsch, Markdorf, DE;
Inventor:
Ulrich Knirsch, Markdorf, DE;
Assignee:
Astrium GmbH, Taufkirchen, DE;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G 1/64 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A towing apparatus for a spacecraft when in orbit is provided. The towing apparatus includes a cable, the first end of which is intended to be permanently connected to a spacecraft that must potentially be towed, and the second end of which is provided to be at least temporarily connected to a towing spacecraft for the purpose of towing. An attachment piece is disposed on the second end of the cable for mechanical attachment to a complementary attachment piece of the towing spacecraft, and a positioning aid is disposed to allow for simplified detection of the attachment piece by the towing spacecraft.