Spacecraft Berthing Tunnel with Guide Petals for Lightweight Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spacecraft docking systems, such as the NASA Docking System, are complex and heavy, limiting their installation on a wide range of visiting spacecraft, particularly commercial spacecraft destined for the International Space Station.
Innovation Solution
A berthing system for visiting spacecraft that uses a tunnel with spring-loaded guide petals and capture latches to establish a structural connection with a target spacecraft, assisted by a manipulator, reducing weight and complexity while enabling cargo and crew transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an active docking system with extendible soft capture ring is used, then reliable soft capture and hard capture are achieved, but weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the visiting spacecraft actively extending a soft capture ring to engage the target spacecraft (traditional active docking), this invention inverts the approach by making the target spacecraft's docking port actively present the soft capture elements (guide petals) that passively engage with the visiting spacecraft's hard capture structure. This inversion eliminates the need for complex extendible rings while maintaining reliable capture sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and separates the soft capture function from the hard capture structure. The guide petals provide soft capture through friction and guidance, while the hard capture hooks provide structural connection. This separation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall system weight and complexity compared to integrated active docking systems.
2Reliability
If an active docking system with extendible soft capture ring is used, then reliable soft capture and hard capture are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional active docking architecture by placing the active presentation of capture elements on the target spacecraft rather than the visiting spacecraft. This simplifies the visiting spacecraft's docking system while maintaining reliable capture through the target's actively presented guide petals and the visiting spacecraft's passive hard capture hooks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the soft capture function into separate guide petals that are structurally distinct from the hard capture hooks. This separation simplifies the overall system architecture by allowing independent optimization of soft capture (guidance and friction) and hard capture (structural connection) functions, reducing device complexity.
3Weight of moving object
If a berthing system with manipulator assistance is used, then weight and complexity are reduced, but ease of operation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a manipulator as an intermediary between the visiting spacecraft and the docking port. The manipulator assists in guiding the visiting spacecraft into the correct position for engagement, compensating for the reduced active guidance capabilities of the passive berthing system. This intermediary enables simplified hardware while maintaining operational ease through robotic assistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The berthing system provides a reliable, lightweight, and less complex means of attaching visiting spacecraft to target spacecraft, facilitating cargo and crew transfer with reduced weight and increased installation versatility.
Implementation Method 1
spring-loaded guide petals spaced around an inner peripheral surface of the tunnel, wherein the spring-loaded guide petals project in an axial direction beyond the interface surface
Data Source
AI summary
Berthing systems for visiting spacecraft and associated methods. In one embodiment, a berthing system includes a tunnel having an interface surface that defines a hard capture mating plane for mating with a docking system of a target spacecraft. The berthing system further includes hooks disposed circumferentially on the interface surface, one or more pressure seals disposed on the interface surface, spring-loaded guide petals spaced around an inner peripheral surface of the tunnel that are configured to independently slide in the axial direction, and capture latches spaced around the inner peripheral surface that are configured to engage mechanical latch strikers on the docking system.