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:
Mar. 03, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 06, 2012
Jonathan Andrew Goff, Lafayette, CO (US);
Michel Edward Loucks, Friday Harbor, WA (US);
Kirk David Dameron, Denver, CO (US);
Jonathan Andrew Goff, Lafayette, CO (US);
Michel Edward Loucks, Friday Harbor, WA (US);
Kirk David Dameron, Denver, CO (US);
Altius Space Machines, Broomfield, CO (US);
Abstract
A method for delivering a payload to a space facility is provided. The method includes detecting the relative position and velocity of a launch vehicle stage, the launch vehicle stage including the payload and one or more thrusters. The method also includes providing guidance information to the launch vehicle stage. The launch vehicle stage does not include a relative navigation system. In response to receiving the guidance information, the method further includes activating one or more thrusters corresponding to the guidance information, and guiding a capture head of a boom into capture proximity to the payload. One end of the boom is coupled to the space facility and the other end of the boom is coupled to the capture head. The method also includes capturing the payload, removing any residual relative velocity of the payload relative to the space facility, and moving the captured payload to the space facility.