The passive device will be in orbit, the movement of the active one must be synchronized with it
MOSCOW, June 26. /TASS/. Roscosmos has patented a method for approaching spacecraft in orbit for servicing satellites. This is stated in the materials distributed by the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (available to TASS).
"The invention relates to the control of the relative motion of active (AKA) and passive (PKA) spacecraft. < ... > The technical result is to simplify the AKA motion control system," the patent says.
The passive vehicle will be in orbit, the movement of the active one must be synchronized with it. "For this purpose, the active spacecraft, in addition to the on-board control system, is equipped with an observation system with sensors and an information processing unit, the program of which introduces a visual 3D image of the passive spacecraft," the document says.
To synchronize the movement, the active device compares the readings of the size and position of the real indicator line (highlighted for comparison) and the visual image of the passive satellite. If they differ, the propulsion system is given a command for an impulse to give rotation.
"When the rotation synchronization of the spacecraft is achieved, the indicator lines (observed from the passive spacecraft and from the image of the active spacecraft) coincide, the coincidence is maintained by the operation of the propulsion system of the active spacecraft during the entire process of conducting orbital maintenance (until the tight connection of the spacecraft is established)," the patent specifies.
Among the tasks that an active satellite can perform are the removal of space debris, refueling and repair of elements of the serviced vehicle, changing its orbit, and others.