Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A rotatable separator drum includes a vertical rotating axis of rotation and at least one flow channel having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Also included is at least one retaining dam arranged in the at least one flow channel in a region between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The at least one retaining dam is configured to allow an overflow of liquid over the at least one dam and to provide for an accumulation of solids in front of the at least one dam. The at least one dam includes at least one rib arranged in a transitional region between opposing wall sections and a distributor base cover and the at least one rib includes portions having differing heights.

Abstract: In a recovery and braking device for objects flying freely in space, particularly for capturing satellites and other orbital objects, (at least one,) preferably a larger number of capturing units (2) are arranged on a spacecraft serving as a steerable carrier vehicle (1), wherein the capturing units are separable from the spacecraft, are equipped with a propellant charge of their own, and comprise a closeable capture net (4) releasably connected via a line (5). The carrier vehicle is equipped with position or attitude controlling engines (6), in order to achieve an orienting of the coupled mass configuration in preparation for the separation. In that regard, several capturing units can be combined into a series or parallel connection.

Abstract: A rotatable separator drum includes a vertical rotating axis of rotation and at least one flow channel having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. Also included is at least one retaining dam arranged in the at least one flow channel in a region between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: A remotely controlled apparatus for grasping an object such as a satellite in space includes a free-flying grasper unit connected by a selectively extendable cable to an orbital platform. The orbital platform and the grasper unit are preferably each independently propelled by respective propulsion systems including multi-axis maneuvering nozzles respectively provided on the orbital platform and on the grasper unit. The grasper unit preferably includes a grasper unit body and a grasper-arm mechanism having a controllable grasping claw articulately mounted on the end of a controllable telescoping arm that extends from the grasper unit body. The grasper unit preferably further includes a camera and a distance measuring sensor to provide visual and distance feedback data for assisting the remotely controlled maneuvering of the grasper unit and actuation of the grasper-arm mechanism.

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.

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.

Abstract: A remotely controlled apparatus for grasping an object such as a satellite in space includes a free-flying grasper unit connected by a selectively extendable cable to an orbital platform. The orbital platform and the grasper unit are preferably each independently propelled by respective propulsion systems including multi-axis maneuvering nozzles respectively provided on the orbital platform and on the grasper unit. The grasper unit preferably includes a grasper unit body and a grasper-arm mechanism having a controllable grasping claw articulately mounted on the end of a controllable telescoping arm that extends from the grasper unit body. The grasper unit preferably further includes a camera and a distance measuring sensor to provide visual and distance feedback data for assisting the remotely controlled maneuvering of the grasper unit and actuation of the grasper-arm mechanism.