Patents Assigned to EADS Space Transportaiton GmbH
  • Patent number: 7168660
    Abstract: Capture devices are mounted on a space platform such as a spacecraft or utility satellite. Each capture device includes a folded capture net stored in a housing, guide weights connected to the net and received in spring-loaded ejection tubes oriented at an acute angle relative to the axis of the housing around the perimeter thereof, and a spring-loaded releasable cover that is connected to the net, covers the net in the housing, and holds the weights in the ejection tubes. When the cover is released, it is spring-ejected from the housing while pulling out and unfolding the net, and the weights are spring-ejected out of the ejection tubes while spreading out the net. After the net wraps around a free-flying target object in space, net closure mechanisms reel-in a net pursing line to close the net, which is connected to the space platform by a tether line on a winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: EADS Space Transportaiton GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Bischof, Juergen Starke, Hansjuergen Guenther, Peter Foth, Lothar Kerstein