Self-assembling persistent space platform

Abstract

A spacecraft includes a plurality of deployable module elements, at least one of the deployable module elements including a robotic manipulator, the spacecraft being reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration. In the launch configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a launch vehicle in a first arrangement. In the on-orbit configuration, the deployable module elements are disposed in a second configuration. The spacecraft is self-assembled by the robotic manipulator reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration, through a transition configuration, to the on-orbit configuration. The deployable module elements may be in a stacked arrangement in the launch configuration and may be in a side-by-side arrangement in the on-orbit configuration.

1 . A method comprising:
 operating an earth orbiting persistent infrastructure module;   providing bus services from the infrastructure module to one or more replaceable payload modules; wherein:   the providing bus services is performed under a contract between a first owner/operator of the infrastructure module and a second owner/operator of at least one of the one or more payload modules.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure module is deployed into space at a substantially earlier time than at least one of the one or more payload modules. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure module is detachably coupled with the one or more replaceable payload modules. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure module is configured to operate in a geosynchronous orbit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure module and at least one of the one or more replaceable payload modules are owned/operated by the first owner/operator. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure module is detachably coupled with with at least a first replaceable payload module and a second replaceable payload module. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bus services include one or more of power, telemetry, command, attitude control and orbit control. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 operating an earth orbiting persistent infrastructure module;   providing bus services from the infrastructure module to one or more replaceable payload modules; wherein:
 the infrastructure module is detachably coupled with the one or more replaceable payload modules; 
 the bus services include one or more of power, telemetry, command, attitude control and orbit control; and 
 the providing bus services is performed under a contract between a first owner/operator of the infrastructure module and a second owner/operator of at least one of the one or more payload modules. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the infrastructure module is deployed into space at a substantially earlier time than at least one of the one or more payload modules. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the infrastructure module is detachably coupled with at least a first replaceable payload module and a second replaceable payload module. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the infrastructure module is configured to operate in a geosynchronous orbit. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the infrastructure module and at least one of the one or more replaceable payload modules are owned/operated by the first owner/operator.