Satellite servicing

Claim 2

In a space shuttle orbiter having a cargo bay formed therein which has a longitudinal extent in a first direction, said orbiter being adapted to open to provide access to the cargo bay through an access passage extending along said cargo bay in said first direction, an improved satellite servicing system comprising: (a) a remote manipulator assembly which includes a remote manipulator arm having a first end secured to the orbiter and a free end which may be moved in response to manipulation of the arm to be positioned at any required point with a predetermined operational range extending within and without said cargo bay for use in the capturing, deploying and servicing of satellites and the like, (b) a combined satellite service and replacement module support assembly mounted in said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, said support assembly comprising: (i) a short generally planar support frame mounted in and extending transversely of said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, said support frame having a support face extending transversely of said cargo bay on the side of the frame proximate said first end of said manipulator arm, (ii) a plurality of replacement modules releasably mounted on said support face of said support frame in a side-by-side generally planar array, said replacement modules being accessible to and releasable by the free end of said manipulator arm, (iii) a satellite servicing platform on said frame, said platform being adapted to support a satellite in a satellite service position within said operational range of said manipulator arm whereby the manipulator assembly may be operated to affect an interchange of modules between a satellite located on said platform and modules located on said support assembly.

Claim 3

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: payload support means located along the length of said cargo bay for supporting one or more primary payload units on said support assembly at any one of a number of positions along the length thereof whereby said support assembly may be located at any required position of opportunity along the length of the cargo bay within said operational range to permit maximum utilization of the cargo bay by the primary payload units.

Claim 4

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 2 having a crew compartment at one end of the longitudinal extent of the cargo bay and wherein said support frame has a support face on which replacement modules are mounted, said support face being directed toward said crew compartment so as to be directly visible therefrom.

Claim 5

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cargo bay has a predetermined payload envelope when closed, said combined satellite and replacement module support assembly being proportioned to be accommodated entirely within said payload envelope when located in said cargo bay, with the result that there is no need to make provision for jettisoning the support assembly in use.

Claim 6

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said support frame comprises a perimeter member extending in close proximity to the adjacent sides of said cargo bay and a plurality of mounting frame members extending across the perimeter member, a plurality of mounting passages formed in the mounting frame members at spaced intervals along the length thereof, a plurality of latching frame members each having releasable latching means thereon adapted to engage and releasably secure said replacement modules, said latching frame members being selectively mountable on said mounting frame member at any required position thereon by selective engagement with said mounting passages so as to arrange said releasable latch means in any required configuration to accommodate replacement modules of various configurations.

Claim 7

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 5 wherein said mounting frame members extend transversely across the perimeter member in a spaced parallel relationship and said latching frame members extend between adjacent mounting frame members in a spaced parallel relationship such that the support frame is generally planar and occupies a minimal amount of the longitudinal extent of the cargo bay payload area.

Claim 8

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said support frame has an upper end arranged to be disposed at said access passage, said mounting frame member including an uppermost mounting frame member disposed adjacent the upper end of said support frame, said satellite servicing platform being mounted on said uppermost mounting frame member and extending upwardly therefrom.

Claim 9

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 7 wherein said satellite servicing platform comprises a turntable having a fixed component secured with respect to said uppermost mounting frame member and a movable component drivingly mounted on said fixed component for rotation relative thereto about an axis extending outwardly from the support member through said access passage.

Claim 10

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 8 wherein the turntable further comprises a plurality of satellite supporting arms mounted on said movble component, said arms being mounted for movement relative to said movable component between a compact stowed configuration in which they are arranged in a generally transverse planar configuration extending parallel to the support frame and a deployed configuration for receiving and retaining a satellite in said servicing position.

Claim 11

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 5 including parking latch means mounted on said support frame outwardly from the space provided to accommodate the array of replacement modules whereby a module removed from a satellite may be parked on the support frame until a replacement module stowage space is vacated on the support frame.

Claim 12

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 5 including module interchange end effector parking means on said support frame outwardly from the space provided to accommodate the array of replacement modules whereby a module interchange end effector may be parked on the support frame to be engageable by the free end of the manipulator arm as required in use.

Claim 13

In a space shuttle orbiter having a cargo bay formed therein which has a longitudinal extent in a first direction, said orbiter being adapted to open to provide access to the cargo bay through an access passage extending along said cargo bay in said first direction, an improved satellite servicing system comprising: (a) a remote manipulator assembly which includes a remote manipulator arm having a first end secured to the orbiter and a free end which may be moved in response to manipulation of the arm to be positioned at any required point with a predetermined operational range extending within and without said cargo bay for use in the capturing, deploying and servicing of satellites and the like, (b) a combined satellite service and replacement module support assembly mounted in said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, said support assembly comprising: (i) a support frame mounted in and extending transversely of said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, (ii) a plurality of replacement modules releasably mounted on said support frame in a side-by-side generally planar array, said replacement modules being accessible to and releasable by the free end of said manipulator arm, (iii) a satellite servicing platform on said frame, said platform being adapted to support a satellite in a satellite service position within said operational range of said maniplator arm whereby the manipulator assembly may be operated to affect an interchange of modules between a satellite located on said platform and modules located on said support assembly, (c) payload support means located along the length of said cargo bay for supporting one or more primary payload units on said support assembly at any one of a number of positions along the length thereof whereby said support assembly may be located at any required position of opportunity along the length of the cargo bay within said operational range to permit maximum utilization of the cargo bay by the primary payload units, (d) a crew compartment at one end of the longitudinal extent of the cargo bay and wherein said support frame has a support face on which replacement modules are mounted, said support face being directed toward said crew compartment so as to be directly visible therefrom.

Claim 14

In a space shuttle orbiter having a cargo bay formed therein which has a longitudinal extent in a first direction, said orbiter being adapted to open to provide access to the cargo bay through an access passage extending along said cargo bay in said first direction, an improved satellite servicing system comprising: (a) a remote manipulator assembly which includes a remote manipulator arm having a first end secured to the orbiter and a free end which may be moved in response to manipulation of the arm to be positioned at any required point with a predetermined operational range extending within and without said cargo bay for use in the capturing, deploying and servicing of satellites and the like, (b) a combined satellite service and replacement module support assembly mounted in said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, said support assembly comprising: (i) a support frame mounted in and extending transversely of said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, (ii) a plurality of replacement modules releasably mounted on said support frame in a side-by-side generally planar array, said replacement modules being accessible to and releasable by the free end of said manipulator arm, (iii) a satellite servicing platform on said frame, said platform being adapted to support a satellite in a satellite service position within said operational range of said maniplator arm whereby the manipulator assembly may be operated to affect an interchange of modules between a satellite located on said platform and modules located on said support assembly, (c) payload support means located along the length of said cargo bay for supporting one or more primary payload units on said support assembly at any one of a number of positions along the length thereof whereby said support assembly may be located at any required position of opportunity along the length of the cargo bay within said operational range to permit maximum utilization of the cargo bay by the primary payload units, (d) a crew compartment at one end of the longitudinal extent of the cargo bay and wherein said support frame has a support face on which replacement modules are mounted, said support face being directed toward said crew compartment so as to be directly visible therefrom.

Claim 15

In a space shuttle orbiter having a cargo bay formed therein which has a longitudinal extent in a first direction, said orbiter being adapted to open to provide access to the cargo bay through an access passage extending along said cargo bay in said first direction, an improved satellite servicing system comprising: (a) a remote manipulator assembly which includes a remote manipulator arm having a first end secured to the orbiter and a free end which may be moved in response to manipulation of the arm to be positioned at any required point with a predetermined operational range extending within and without said cargo bay for use in the capturing, deploying and servicing of satellites and the like, (b) a combined satellite service and replacement module support assembly mounted in said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, said support assembly comprising: (i) a support frame mounted in and extending transversely of said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, (ii) a plurality of replacement modules releasably mounted on said support frame in a side-by-side generally planar array, said replacement modules being accessible to and releasable by the free end of said manipulator arm, (iii) a satellite servicing platform on said frame, said platform being adapted to support a satellite in a satellite service position within said operational range of said manipulator arm whereby the manipulator assembly may be operated to affect an interchange of modules between a satellite located on said platform and modules located on said suoport assembly, (c) payload support means located along the length of said cargo bay for supporting one or more primary payload units on said support assembly at any one of a number of positions along the length thereof whereby said support assembly may be located at any required position of opportunity along the length of the cargo bay within said operational range to permit maximum utilization of the cargo bay by the primary payload units, (d) said support frame comprises a perimeter member extending in close proximity to the adjacent sides of said cargo bay and a plurality of mounting frame members extending across the perimeter member, a plurality of mounting passages formed in the mounting frame members at spaced intervals along the length thereof, a plurality of latching frame members each having releasable latching means thereon adapted to engage and releasably secure said replacement modules, said latching frame members being selectively mountable on said mounting frame member at any required position thereon by selective engagement with said mounting passages so as to arrange said releasable latch means in any required configuration to accommodate replacement modules of various configurations.

Claim 16

In a space shuttle orbiter having a cargo bay formed therein which has a longitudinal extent in a first direction, said orbiter being adapted to open to provide access to the cargo bay through an access passage extending along said cargo bay in said first direction, an improved satellite servicing system comprising: (a) a remote manipulator assembly which includes a remote manipulator arm having a first end secured to the orbiter and a free end which may be moved in response to manipulation of the arm to be positioned at any required point with a predetermined operational range extending within and without said cargo bay for use in the capturing, deploying and servicing of satellites and the like, (b) a combined satellite service and replacement module support assembly mounted in said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, said support assembly comprising: (i) a support frame mounted in and extending transversely of said cargo bay within said operational range of said arm, (ii) a plurality of replacement modules releasably mounted on said support frame in a side-by-side generally planar array, said replacement modules being accessible to and releasable by the free end of said manipulator arm, (iii) a satellite servicing platform on said frame, said platform being adapted to support a satellite in a satellite service position within said operational range of said manipulator arm whereby the manipulator assembly may be operated to affect an interchange of modules between a satellite located on said platform and modules located on said suoport assembly, (c) payload support means located along the length of said cargo bay for supporting one or more primary payload units on said support assembly at any one of a number of positions along the length thereof whereby said support assembly may be located at any required position of opportunity along the length of the cargo bay within said operational range to permit maximum utilization of the cargo bay by the primary payload units, (d) said support frame comprises a perimeter member extending in close proximity to the adjacent sides of said cargo bay and a plurality of mounting frame members extending across the perimeter member, a plurality of mounting passages formed in the mounting frame members at spaced intervals along the length thereof, a plurality of latching frame members each having releasable latching means thereon adapted to engage and releasably secure said replacement modules, said latching frame members being selectively mountable on said mounting frame member at any required position thereon by selective engagement with said mounting passages so as to arrange said releasable latch means in any required configuration to accommodate replacement modules of various configurations.

Claim 17

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 13 wherein said mounting frame members extend transversely across the perimeter member in a spaced parallel relationship and said latching frame members extend between adjacent mounting frame members in a spaced parallel relationship such that the support frame is generally planar and occupies a minimal amount of the longitudinal extent of the cargo bay payload area.

Claim 18

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 14 wherein said support frame has an upper end arranged to be disposed at said access passage, said mounting frame members including an uppermost mounting frame member disposed adjacent the upper end of said support frame, said satellite servicing platform being mounted on said uppermost frame member and extending upwardly therefrom.

Claim 19

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 15 wherein said satellite servicing platform comprises a turntable having a fixed component secured with respect to said uppermost mounting frame member and a movable component drivingly mounted on said fixed component for rotation relative thereto about an axis extending outwardly from the support member through said access passage.

Claim 20

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 16 wherein the turntable further comprises a plurality of satellite supporting arms mounted on said movable component, said arms being mounted for movement relative to said movable component between a compact stowed configuration in which they are arranged in a generally transverse planar configuration extending parallel to the support frame and a deployed configuration for receiving and retaining a satellite in said servicing position.

Claim 21

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 13 including parking latch means mounted on said support frame outwardly from the space provided to accommodate the array of replacement modules whereby a module removed from a satellite may be parked on the support frame until a replacement module stowage space is vacated on the support frame.

Claim 22

A space shuttle orbiter as claimed in claim 13 including module interchange end effector parking means on said support frame outwardly from the space provided to accommodate the array of replacement modules whereby a module interchange end effector may be parked on the support frame to be engageable by the free end of the manipulator arm as required in use.