How Spacecraft Servicing Pods Maneuver and Refuel Other Satellites
A specialized robotic pod designed to dock with aging satellites and use a flexible, multi-jointed boom arm to adjust their orbit or velocity.
Original patent title: “Spacecraft servicing devices and related assemblies, systems, and methods”
A specialized robotic pod designed to dock with aging satellites and use a flexible, multi-jointed boom arm to adjust their orbit or velocity. Granted to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp in 2023 with 24 claims and 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a small, deployable spacecraft 'servicing device' that acts as a life-extension kit for satellites. The device features a rotatable boom arm with a thruster assembly at the end, which allows it to precisely position engines to push or steer a target satellite. By placing the boom arm's pivot point near the docking mechanism, the device can maintain a stable connection while moving its thrusters to different angles. This allows the servicer to perform orbital corrections or station-keeping maneuvers on a target satellite that has run out of its own fuel.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover autonomous docking systems that lack a movable boom arm for thruster positioning
- Does not cover servicing devices that are permanently integrated into the host spacecraft rather than being deployable pods
- Does not cover non-mechanical methods of orbital adjustment, such as solar sails or electromagnetic tethers
- Does not cover the internal chemical composition of the thruster fuel itself
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the placement of the boom arm's rotatable coupling directly adjacent to the docking feature, which allows the thruster to exert force on the target satellite from multiple orientations without needing to move the entire docking assembly.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV)
Satellite life-extension service missions
On-orbit robotic maintenance platforms
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As satellites become expensive, long-term assets, the ability to extend their operational life is critical for commercial and military space operations. This technology enables 'in-orbit servicing,' which could prevent the accumulation of space debris by keeping functional satellites in their correct orbits rather than letting them drift or burn up prematurely.
Filed
November 30, 2020
Granted
June 27, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Northrop Grumman is the primary developer, having already demonstrated this technology with their Mission Extension Vehicles (MEV-1 and MEV-2). Other players in the emerging orbital servicing market include companies like Astroscale and various government space agencies focused on sustainable space logistics.
Market impact
This patent supports the transition of the space industry from a 'disposable' model to a 'serviceable' model. By enabling the mechanical extension of satellite life, it reduces the immediate need for costly replacement launches and provides a technical framework for the growing in-orbit servicing and manufacturing sector.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a small, deployable spacecraft 'servicing device' that acts as a life-extension kit for satellites. The device features a rotatable boom arm with a thruster assembly at the end, which allows it to precisely position engines to push or steer a target satellite. By placing the boom arm's pivot point near the docking mechanism, the device can maintain a stable connection while moving its thrusters to different angles. This allows the servicer to perform orbital corrections or station-keeping maneuvers on a target satellite that has run out of its own fuel.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the placement of the boom arm's rotatable coupling directly adjacent to the docking feature, which allows the thruster to exert force on the target satellite from multiple orientations without needing to move the entire docking assembly.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover autonomous docking systems that lack a movable boom arm for thruster positioning
- Does not cover servicing devices that are permanently integrated into the host spacecraft rather than being deployable pods
- Does not cover non-mechanical methods of orbital adjustment, such as solar sails or electromagnetic tethers
- Does not cover the internal chemical composition of the thruster fuel itself
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
16/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$53K – $168K
Midpoint $105K · 14.5 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
24 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Hekman, B. M., Nicholson, J. G., Chow, K. S., Lieberbaum, M., REAVILL, J. D., Treachler, D. C., Cipollo, P. M., Niederstrasser, C. G., Sullivan, R. B., Ortiz, O. B., Glogowski, M. J., & Llorens, W. A. (2023). How Spacecraft Servicing Pods Maneuver and Refuel Other Satellites (U.S. Patent No. 11,685,554). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11685554/starship-upper-stage
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Spacecraft Servicing Pods Maneuver and Refuel Other Satellites cover?
A specialized robotic pod designed to dock with aging satellites and use a flexible, multi-jointed boom arm to adjust their orbit or velocity.
Who owns patent US 11685554?
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 27, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11685554 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
As satellites become expensive, long-term assets, the ability to extend their operational life is critical for commercial and military space operations. This technology enables 'in-orbit servicing,' which could prevent the accumulation of space debris by keeping functional satellites in their correct orbits rather than letting them drift or burn up prematurely.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover autonomous docking systems that lack a movable boom arm for thruster positioning
Same assignee
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