Moon & Mars Orbiting Spinning Tether Transport - Tethers Unlimited

Rendezvous: Payload Acquisition• Rapid Automatic Rendezvous & Capture(AR&C) is a Key Requirement– Payload is in free-fall orbit– Tether tip under 1-2 gees centrifugalacceleration– Relative speed zero only momentarily– 1 s @ 1 gee => 5 m & 10 m/s• TUI Has Developed Methods for ExtendingRendezvous Window– Grapple Assembly has small tether deployer– At conjunction of payload and tether tip,grapple assembly deploys tether at lowtension• 1 km tether gives 10s @ 2 gees– Grapple and payload “float” in free falltogether for 5-10 seconds– Payload maneuvers to dock with grapple– Grapple applies brake to tether gradually tominimize tether tension excursionPayload Capture Vehicledescends towards PayloadSeparation (m)Load Level10.80.60.40.21050∆X∆Z-5-5 0PCV DeploysMore TetherPayload Capture VehicleReleases Tethered Grapple12-Second AR&C WindowPCV pays out tetherand Payload maneuversto dock with grappleGrapple AcquiresPayload and PCVHalts Tether DeploymentPCV engagestether brake andbegins to lift payload5 10 15 20Time (s)TipMiddleFacility00 400 8001200 1600 2000Time (s)TUI/MMOSTT 27