Patent ID: 11970292
Assignee: MAXAR SPACE LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A spacecraft, comprising:
a propulsion subsystem;
one or more robotic arms configured to perform a servicing operation on an on-orbit second spacecraft, the one or more robotic arms comprising:
a sealing tool configured to apply heat and pressure to an area of an insulating blanket of the second spacecraft to seal together outer layers of the area of the insulating blanket; and
a cutting tool configured to cut the insulating blanket in the sealed area; and

a spacecraft controller connected to the propulsion subsystem and the one or more robotic arms, the spacecraft controller configured to approach the spacecraft to the on-orbit second spacecraft by use of the propulsion subsystem and, using the one or more robotic arms:
grapple the second spacecraft;
seal a first area of an insulating blanket of the second spacecraft with the sealing tool;
cut the insulating blanket of the second spacecraft at the sealed first area with the cutting tool; and
access the second spacecraft through the cut in the sealed first area of the insulating blanket.