Space debris interception
First Claim
1. A vehicle for intercepting a target object orbiting in space, comprising:
- an interception portion for intercepting a target object when the vehicle is in orbit, wherein the interception portion comprises a means for engaging with the target object when the vehicle is at an interception point; and
a launching portion arranged to launch the vehicle from Earth into a first elliptical orbit which intersects an orbit of the target object at the interception point, the vehicle being arranged to adopt a second elliptical orbit on engagement with the target object, wherein the second elliptical orbit is determined prior to launch;
wherein in which the first elliptical orbit is arranged so as to intersect the orbit of the target object at an interception point, andwherein the second elliptical orbit is such that the vehicle is arranged to move from the interception point towards the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere when engaged with the target object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle for intercepting a target object orbiting in space is provided, comprising a launching portion for driving the vehicle into an orbit, and an interception portion for intercepting a target object when the vehicle is in orbit, wherein the interception portion comprises means for engaging with the target object and wherein the launching portion is arranged to drive the vehicle into a first elliptical orbit and the vehicle is arranged to adopt a second elliptical orbit when engaged with the target object in which the first elliptical orbit is arranged so as to intersect the orbit of the target object at an interception point, and the second elliptical orbit is such that the vehicle is arranged to move from the interception point towards the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere when engaged with the target object. A method of controlling a vehicle for intercepting a target object orbiting in space is also provided, comprising controlling the vehicle to be driven into a first elliptical orbit to intersect the orbit of the target object at an interception point and controlling the vehicle to engage with the target object at the interception point and to adopt a second elliptical orbit when engaged with the target object in which the second elliptical orbit is such that the vehicle is arranged to move from the interception point towards the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere when engaged with the target object.
17 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vehicle for intercepting a target object orbiting in space, comprising:
-
an interception portion for intercepting a target object when the vehicle is in orbit, wherein the interception portion comprises a means for engaging with the target object when the vehicle is at an interception point; and a launching portion arranged to launch the vehicle from Earth into a first elliptical orbit which intersects an orbit of the target object at the interception point, the vehicle being arranged to adopt a second elliptical orbit on engagement with the target object, wherein the second elliptical orbit is determined prior to launch; wherein in which the first elliptical orbit is arranged so as to intersect the orbit of the target object at an interception point, and wherein the second elliptical orbit is such that the vehicle is arranged to move from the interception point towards the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere when engaged with the target object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of controlling a vehicle for intercepting a target object orbiting in space, comprising:
controlling the vehicle to cause the vehicle to be launched from Earth into a first elliptical orbit to intersect an orbit of the target object at an interception point; and controlling the vehicle to cause the vehicle to engage with the target object at the interception point and to adopt a second elliptical orbit on engagement with the target object, wherein the second elliptical orbit is such that the vehicle is arranged to move from the interception point towards the Earth'"'"'s atmosphere when engaged with the target object, and is determined prior to launch. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification