US 12,246,857 B2
Satellite boom end effector
Michael Freestone, Woodside, CA (US); and Sean Dougherty, Arvada, CO (US)
Assigned to Maxar Space LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Maxar Space LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/707,475.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/310,077, filed on Feb. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0257137 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01); B64G 1/22 (2006.01); B64G 1/66 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/64 (2013.01) [B64G 1/222 (2013.01); B64G 1/66 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A satellite, comprising:
a bus;
a boom having a first end mounted to the bus, and a second end distal from the first end;
a thruster mounted on the second end of the boom configured to provide thrust to the satellite, wherein the boom is configured to carry the thruster, the thruster facing in a first direction at the second end of the boom; and
an end effector mounted on the second end of the boom configured to acquire objects, the end effector facing in a second direction opposing the first direction such that a propulsion stream exhausted from the thruster does not impact the end effector.