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:
May. 05, 2015
Filed:
Feb. 29, 2012
Juergen Starke, Bremen, DE;
Bernhard Bischof, Granderkesee, DE;
Josef Sommer, Weyhe, DE;
Michael Dumke, Bad Oldesloe, DE;
Uwe Bruege, Bremen, DE;
Juergen Starke, Bremen, DE;
Bernhard Bischof, Granderkesee, DE;
Josef Sommer, Weyhe, DE;
Michael Dumke, Bad Oldesloe, DE;
Uwe Bruege, Bremen, DE;
Astrium GmbH, Taufkirchen, DE;
Abstract
For capturing satellites and other orbital objects, one or more independent capturing units are releasably arranged on a spacecraft serving as a steerable carrier vehicle. Each capturing unit has a propellant charge and at least one braking thrust nozzle of its own, and a closeable capture net releasably connected to the capturing unit via a tether line. The net is deployed from the capturing unit to capture the orbital object. Position or attitude control engines of the carrier vehicle are operated for orienting the combination including the capturing unit and the orbital object captured in the net. The capturing unit is then released from the carrier vehicle, and applies a braking thrust to the captured object so as to deorbit the captured object together with the capturing unit.