Systems and methods for deploying spacecraft

US10351268B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Miguel A. Estevez · Moraga, US
• Jason D. Flathom · Irvine, US
• Gary E. Lemke · Grand Rapids, US
• Dennis Y. Nakasone · Redondo Beach, US
• Christopher P. Volk · Manhattan Beach, US
• Elvis Silva · Denver, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 8, 2016
• Grant date: Jul 16, 2019
• Expiry date: Aug 25, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/6457
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A spacecraft system includes a plurality of spacecraft in a stack. The stack has one or more layers, each layer includes at least two spacecraft, and each spacecraft is releasably coupled to one or more adjacent spacecraft in the stack. The spacecraft system also includes a controller configured to, for each layer, (i) cause the layer to release from the stack, and (ii) after the layer releases from the stack, cause the at least two spacecraft in the layer to release from each other.