	US 12,378,006 B2
	Interlocking, reconfigurable, reconstitutable, reformable cell-based space system
Henry Helvajian, Pasadena, CA (US); and Randy Villahermosa, La Canada Flintridge, CA (US)
Assigned to THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed by The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/185,709.
Application 18/185,709 is a continuation of application No. 15/655,972, filed on Jul. 21, 2017, granted, now 11,643,225.
Prior Publication US 2023/0219699 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01); B64G 1/22 (2006.01)

CPC B64G 1/223 (2023.08) [B64G 1/645 (2013.01); B64G 1/6462 (2023.08)]

29 Claims

1. A cell, comprising:

a frame comprising a plurality of rails, a plurality of motion-control guides, or both;

a plurality of tractors, each tractor of the plurality of tractors configured to move along a respective rail or motion-control guide of the plurality of rails and/or the plurality of motion-control guides; and

a component integrated with or located on at least one of the plurality of tractors, the component comprising a payload, wherein

the plurality of tractors are configured to facilitate a respective connection of the cell with at least one other cell,

the cell is a space vehicle, and

the payload comprises an element that faces externally away from the frame and is configured to capture images, transmit data, receive data, detect radiation, detect temperature, detect light, sense external phenomena, transmit power to an entity external to the cell, generate external electromagnetic fields, or any combination thereof.

29. A cell, comprising:

a frame comprising a plurality of rails, a plurality of motion-control guides, or both; and

the plurality of tractors are configured to facilitate a respective connection of the cell with at least one other cell,

the plurality of rails are configured to collapse into a flat shape for stowage and during launch, and

the cell is a space vehicle.