Space Facility Boom Capture Head for Payload Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current space facilities face challenges in efficiently capturing and releasing payloads without sophisticated navigation systems, leading to high costs and inefficiencies due to the need for additional delivery vehicles with precision relative navigation and maneuvering capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a boom with a capture head attached to a space facility to guide and capture payloads, eliminating the need for relative navigation systems in the payload, allowing for the use of less-sophisticated rocket upper stages for delivery and retrieval, and enabling just-in-time delivery and departure capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional docking maneuvers with delivery vehicles are used, then payloads can be delivered to space facilities, but the cost and complexity increase due to the need for precision relative navigation and maneuvering systems in the delivery vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
A boom with a capture head serves as an intermediary mechanism between the space facility and the payload. The boom extends from the space facility to physically reach and capture the payload, eliminating the need for the payload to have sophisticated navigation systems. The capture head at the end of the boom provides the final capture function, acting as a mediator that simplifies the payload design while ensuring reliable delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of equipping the delivery vehicle (payload) with complex navigation and maneuvering systems to autonomously dock with the space facility, the invention inverts the approach by placing the active capture mechanism on the space facility itself. The space facility actively reaches out with the boom and capture head to grab the payload, reversing who performs the complex maneuvering operation.
2Reliability
If additional delivery vehicles with precision navigation capabilities are used, then payloads can be reliably delivered, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The boom and capture head system acts as a cost-effective intermediary that transfers payloads without requiring expensive specialized delivery vehicles. By using the space facility's own infrastructure (the boom) to perform the capture, the system eliminates the need to launch additional costly vehicles equipped with precision navigation systems, thereby reducing overall mission cost while maintaining delivery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The space facility serves itself by using its own boom and capture head to retrieve payloads directly. Instead of relying on external delivery vehicles to bring payloads to the facility, the facility uses its own resources (the boom mechanism) to reach out and capture payloads, thereby eliminating the need for costly additional transport vehicles and reducing overall mission expenditure.
3Reliability
If mechanical grippers are used to capture payloads, then known objects with predictable characteristics can be captured, but the system lacks adaptability to different payload types and orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The capture head is designed as a universal mechanism that can handle multiple types of payloads regardless of their specific characteristics. Rather than requiring different gripper designs for different payload types, the single capture head design can adapt to various payload shapes, sizes, and orientations, making the system multi-functional and versatile while maintaining reliable capture across different scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
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.