Gateway Segment Assembly Line

摘要

A gateway segment assembly line that allows for the construction of space stations while in orbit by fabricating individual segments in space. An assembly housing provides an open ended structure through which materials are processed in order to construct a segment for a space station. The materials are loaded into a plurality of workstations positioned along the assembly housing through the use of a plurality of external manipulators adjacently connected to the assembly housing. Each of the plurality of workstations provides the equipment for sequentially loading materials into the assembly housing. An assembly line conveyor, positioned throughout the plurality of workstations, guides materials through the assembly housing as the materials are mated to form the segment. Upon completion of the segment, a plurality of segment transport units transports the segment to an orbital construction site, wherein the segment is mated with subsequent segments to form the space station.

主权项

1. A gateway segment assembly line comprises:
an assembly housing; an assembly line conveyor; a plurality of workstations; a plurality of external manipulators; the plurality of workstations comprises a loading station and a castoff station; the plurality of workstations being sequentially positioned along the assembly housing; the loading station and the castoff station being positioned opposite each other along the assembly housing; the assembly line conveyor being positioned within the assembly housing; the assembly line conveyor being connected to the assembly housing; the assembly line conveyor being positioned along the plurality of workstations; and the plurality of external manipulators being adjacently connected to the assembly housing opposite the assembly line conveyor.