Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Patent
1988-12-30
1990-02-06
Barefoot, Galen
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
B64G 164
Patent
active
048983489
ABSTRACT:
A mechanism for the docking of a space vehicle to a space station where a connection for transfer of personnel and equipment is desired. The invention comprises an active docking structure on a space vehicle 10 and a passive docking structure on a station 11. The passive structure includes a docking ring 50 mounted on a tunnel structure 35 fixed to the space station. The active structure including a docking ring 18 carried by actuator-attenuator devices 20, each attached at one end to the ring 18 and at its other end in the vehicle's payload bay 12. The devices 20 respond to command signals for moving the docking ring 18 between a stowed position in the space vehicle to a deployed position suitable for engagement with the docking ring 50.
The devices 20 comprise means responsive to signals of sensed loadings to absorb impact energy and retraction means for drawing the coupled space vehicle and station into final docked configuration and moving the tunnel structure to a berthed position in the space vehicle 10. Latches 60 couple the space vehicle and space station upon contact of docking rings 18 and 50 and latches 41-48 establish a structural tie between the spacecraft when retracted.
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patent: 3443773 (1969-05-01), Blumrich et al.
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patent: 4637272 (1987-01-01), Teske et al.
patent: 4718709 (1988-01-01), Myers et al.
Faget, European Patent Application, #0196793, Oct. 8, 1986.
Boeing Space Station, Brochure.
Barefoot Galen
Fein Edward K.
Manning John R.
Schlorff Russell E.
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator
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