| 摘要 |
2065356 9106473 PCTABS00005 A method and apparatus for joining vehicles such as spacecraft is disclosed that utilizes a capture and berthing technique. The coupling apparatus comprises a first coupling unit (12) having a generally rigid extensible structure (34) that is mountable to a first spacecraft (14) and a second coupling unit (16) having a probe-like structure (80) mountable to a second spacecraft (18) which is cooperable with the extensible structure (34) to effect vehicle coupling. The first and second spacecraft are maneuvered so as to generally align the coupling apparatus thereon, after which the extensible structure (34) is extended to engage and capture the probe-like structure (80). Following capture of the second coupling unity by the extensible structure (34), the extensible structure (34) is subsequently retracted to effect berthing of the first and second spacecraft. Once the spacecraft coupling units have been captured and berthed in the foregoing manner, they can be structurally joined by appropriate coupling apparatus.
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