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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8052092 | Method and apparatus for satellite orbital change using space debris An apparatus for orbital change of a satellite incorporates a capture mechanism for space debris and a tether connecting the capture mechanism to a satellite. The tether is extendable to position the capture mechanism relative to the space debris. A controller is em... | 11/08/2011 |
| 7992824 | Docking system An end effector operatively coupled to an extendable tensile element extended from a first vehicle engages a primary receptacle of a second vehicle. The first and second vehicles are drawn together by retracting the extendable tensile element into the first vehicle ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7971830 | System and method for space elevator deployment A system and method for the initial deployment of a space elevator using a tether, doubly spooled from each end, an inertial mass, beacon satellite and positional thrusters, whereby tether is de-spooled from geosynchronous Earth orbit altitude, using gravity and cen... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7837153 | Local observable area and self inspection system A surveying device and a method for surveying a satellite and its environs is disclosed. The surveying device comprises a docking platform having an interface for physically coupling to a surface of a bus of a spacecraft and an imaging module, releasably coupleable ... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7712706 | Space tethers for limiting the dynamic response of structures Methods and systems for providing space tethers for limiting the dynamic response of structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for limiting the dynamic response of a structure having a base member and a substructure projecting outwardly from the base mem... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7681840 | Space transportation node including tether system A transportation node that orbits a celestial body includes a truss having two ends with least at one end of the truss having at least one coupling tether cable with a tether tip at individual ends. The truss, while orbiting the celestial body, rotates around its ce... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7503526 | Space transportation node including tether system A transportation node system orbits a celestial body. The node system includes a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body. The truss stores payloads. The node system also includes tether tips, each attache... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7413147 | System and method for propellantless photon tether formation flight The invention is a system and method for propellantless, ultrahigh precision satellite formation flying based on ultrahigh precision intracavity laser thrusters and tethers with an intersatellite distance accuracy of nanometers at maximum estimated distances of tens... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7392964 | Method and apparatus for utilizing a lifeboat for a space station in earth orbit to serve as a lunar spacecraft Methods and an apparatus for a lifeboat of a space station in orbit to be docked with and used in combination with a separately launched logistics module having an upper stage propulsion capability as a space craft for human pilots and passengers to be flown to orbi... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7207525 | Apparatus for grasping objects in space A remotely controlled apparatus for grasping an object such as a satellite in space includes a free-flying grasper unit connected by a selectively extendable cable to an orbital platform. The orbital platform and the grasper unit are preferably each independently pr... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7185848 | Mass transfer system for stabilizing an airship and other vehicles subject to pitch and roll moments The invention relates to a mechanism to control the pitch and/or roll and/or center of gravity of a vehicle. The first embodiment is a track-based mass transfer system in which pathways are positioned along or radially terminate at a central horizontal plane of the ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7178763 | Passive deployment mechanism for space tethers Mechanism for passively deploying expendable space tethers on orbit, by means of an initial separation impulse only, provided by a simple spring system that is part of the mechanism itself. The passive deployment of the space tether and a tethered end-mass is provid... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7168660 | System for capturing and recovering free-flying objects in space Capture devices are mounted on a space platform such as a spacecraft or utility satellite. Each capture device includes a folded capture net stored in a housing, guide weights connected to the net and received in spring-loaded ejection tubes oriented at an acute ang... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7118074 | Electrodynamic tether A tether system for providing thrust to or power subsystems of an artificial satellite in a low earth orbit. The tether has three main sections, an insulated section connected to the satellite, a conducting section connected to the insulating section for drawing in ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 6981674 | System and method for space elevator A system and method for a Space Elevator using a transport tether shaped into double catenary with one catenary below synchronous orbit altitude and the second catenary above synchronous orbit altitude and while also forming a harmonic oscillator using a combination... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6913224 | Method and system for accelerating an object A system for accelerating an object that includes a towing vehicle, a tether connected to the towing vehicle, an object having at least one airfoil connected to the tether and a controller for controlling movement of the object, wherein, the towing vehicle moves in ... | 07/05/2005 |
| 4824051 | Orbital system including a tethered satellite An orbital system comprising a main platform and a satellite tethered by a long cable which may be used to perform measurements in the upper layers of the atmosphere. Air drag on the satellite causes the orbit parameters to decay, and means of regeneratin... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4580747 | Method and apparatus for orbital plane changing A lifting body is suspended from a satellite by a long tether extending downwardly into the atmosphere of a planet about which the satellite is orbiting. The lifting body is oriented so as to provide a horizontal force upon the satellite through the tethe... | 04/08/1986 |
| 4318517 | Closed space structures The invented space structure is elongated and closed upon itself in the form of a ring or belt. In the preferred form it encircles a gravitational body and rotates at or above orbital velocity, while in an alternate form it does not encircle any gravitati... | 03/09/1982 |
| 4097010 | Satellite connected by means of a long tether to a powered spacecraft There is disclosed a system by which a satellite is connected by means of a long tether, typically a wire 100 km or more in length, to a powered spacecraft. The spacecraft may be the Space Shuttle, and two basic equilibrium positions of the system are dis... | 06/27/1978 |
