{
  "patent_number": "US 11492143",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Space Taxis and Locomotives Move Satellites Between Orbits",
  "original_title": "Multi-Orbital Transfer Vehicle constellation and method of use",
  "summary": "A modular system using a small 'rendezvous' vehicle to collect satellites and a larger 'locomotive' vehicle to haul them to their final destination in space.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a two-part space transport system designed to move satellites between different orbits efficiently. A small, nimble 'rendezvous vehicle' travels to a satellite's current location, docks with it, and brings it to a larger 'locomotive vehicle' already waiting in orbit. Once connected into a single stack, the locomotive uses its more powerful propulsion system to move the entire assembly to the satellite's target orbit. Finally, the satellite is released to begin its mission. The system is designed to share propellant between the vehicles, allowing for longer missions and more flexibility in how satellites are deployed.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover single-stage orbital transfer vehicles that move satellites without docking to a secondary locomotive.",
    "Does not cover ground-based launch systems or rockets used to initially put satellites into orbit.",
    "Does not cover autonomous docking systems that do not specifically utilize the rendezvous-to-locomotive stack architecture.",
    "Does not cover propulsion systems that do not use the specified ammonia propellant configuration."
  ],
  "filed": "2020-08-06",
  "granted": "2022-11-08",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Atomos Nuclear and Space Corp",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/atomos-nuclear-and-space-corp",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Vanessa Jane Clark",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/vanessa-jane-clark"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 2,
  "tags": [
    "aerospace",
    "telecommunications"
  ],
  "abstract": "A modular and scalable system to transfer space articles between space orbits. In one embodiment, the system employs a rendezvous vehicle which docks with a space article in an initial orbit, the connected stack then docking with a locomotive vehicle which maneuvers to a targeted orbit where the space article is detached. In one feature, the rendezvous vehicle and locomotive vehicle use a common propellant and the space article is a satellite.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11492143/catching-super-heavy-booster",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11492143/catching-super-heavy-booster/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11492143",
  "relatedPatents": []
}