Patent ID: 9033280
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
1. A carrier for spacecraft comprising: an expandable module having an expandable shell and an internal volume sufficient to house multiple spacecraft; an end cap disposed at one end of the module; a chamber comprising an external hatch and an internal hatch, the internal hatch being disposed on the module at an opposite end to the end cap; a robotic arm attached to the inside of the chamber and adapted to extend beyond the external hatch and to connect to a spacecraft and the robotic arm being adapted to extend beyond the internal hatch; a plurality of trusses inside the internal volume of the expandable module and each truss being attached to the end cap; wherein with the external hatch open and the internal hatch closed, the robotic arm is adapted to transition the spacecraft from outside the chamber into the chamber, and with the external hatch closed and the internal hatch open, the robotic arm is adapted to transition the spacecraft from the chamber into the internal volume of the expandable module.