Salvaging and braking device for objects flying freely in space

摘要

For capturing satellites and other orbital objects, one or more independent capturing units are releasably arranged on a spacecraft serving as a steerable carrier vehicle. Each capturing unit has a propellant charge and at least one braking thrust nozzle of its own, and a closeable capture net releasably connected to the capturing unit via a tether line. The net is deployed from the capturing unit to capture the orbital object. Position or attitude control engines of the carrier vehicle are operated for orienting the combination including the capturing unit and the orbital object captured in the net. The capturing unit is then released from the carrier vehicle, and applies a braking thrust to the captured object so as to deorbit the captured object together with the capturing unit.

主权项

1. A recovery and braking device for capturing orbital objects flying freely in space, comprising
a spacecraft serving as a steerable carrier vehicle, and at least one capturing unit releasably mounted on and releasable from the carrier vehicle, wherein: the carrier vehicle is equipped with at least one position or attitude controlling engine, each said capturing unit is respectively equipped with at least one propellant charge and a closeable capture net, each said capturing unit is respectively releasably connected via a single tether line to a closed central apex of the capture net, wherein a respective single one of said capture net is connected by said single tether line to only a single said capturing unit, and the propellant charge is equipped with at least one thrust nozzle effective as a braking device.