Patent ID: 6843446

Claim:
A method of servicing in-space satellites, said method comprising: launching into space an exoatmospheric mothership spacecraft including propulsion systems and guidance, navigation and control systems for performing orbital maneuvers and one or more mini-Satellite Inspection Recovery, and Extension spacecraft carried by said mothership spacecraft, said Satellite Inspection Recovery, and Extension spacecraft including propulsion systems and guidance, navigation and control systems for controlling in-space maneuvers, and said mini-Satellite Inspection Recovery, and Extension spacecraft including an imaging means for producing video images; providing a remote cockpit system for controlling in-space proximity operations of the mini-Satellite Inspection Recovery and Extension spacecraft, the remote cockpit including a cockpit remote from the spacecraft, a spacecraft variables display system located in the remote cockpit, the spacecraft variables display system including a visual display for signals downlinked from an image producing means and motion sensor means onboard the mini-Satellite Inspection Recovery, and Extension spacecraft; and control means adapted to be manually operated by a human pilot in the remote cockpit in response to displays on the display system, including means to generate pilot input signals through the computer which provide control attitude and velocity uplinked to the spacecraft to control the spacecraft during the proximity operations; deploying said one or more mini-Satellite Inspection Recovery, and Extension spacecraft from said mothership; manually operating the remote cockpit utilizing displays on the display system to control the mini-Satellite Inspection Recovery, and Extension spacecraft in proximity to an in-space satellite to perform proximity operations.