Spacercraft Shield

• US 20130327894A1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bigelow Aerospace
• Original Assignee: Bigelow Aerospace
• Inventors: Bigelow, Robert T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,327,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/159.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/56 Protection against meteoroids or space debris
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/902 Specified use of nanostructure

Abstract

A spacecraft carbon nanotube shield is disclosed. Shield segments are produced in a facility in space. The segments are transported from the facility to a vicinity of a spacecraft hull. The segments are assembled over the hull to substantially cover an area of the hull.

Claims

1. A method of producing and deploying a shield for use with a spacecraft to provide some protection to the spacecraft'"'"'s hull against space debris comprising the steps of:

a) providing a facility in space to grow carbon nanotubes in a low gravity environment;

b) producing a receiving type shield segment comprised of carbon nanotubes within the facility, wherein the shield segment is in a shape to substantially conform to a segment of the outer surface of a spacecraft hull;

c) producing a retaining type shield segment comprised of carbon nanotubes within the facility, wherein the shield segment is in a shape to substantially conform to a segment of the outer surface of a spacecraft hull;

c) transporting the receiving and retaining type shield segments outside the facility;

d) placing the shield segments in the vicinity of a corresponding area of the spacecraft'"'"'s outer hull and connecting the receiving and retaining type shield structures together; and

f) repeating steps b) through e) until the carbon nanotube shield segments substantially enclose the hull of the spacecraft.

1-1. A method of producing and deploying a shield for use with a spacecraft to provide some protection to the spacecraft'"'"'s hull against space debris comprising the steps of

a) providing a facility in space to grow carbon nanotubes in a low gravity environment;

b) producing a shield segment comprised of carbon nanotubes within the facility, wherein the shield segment is in a shape to substantially conform to a segment of the outer surface of a spacecraft hull;

c) transporting the shield segment outside the facility;

d) placing the shield segment in the vicinity of a corresponding area of the spacecrat'"'"'s hull;

e) attaching the carbon nanotube shield segments together in the general vicinity of the outer surface of the spacecraft'"'"'s hull; and

f) repeating steps b) through e) until the carbon nanotube shield segments substantially enclose the hull of the spacecraft.