Space-based gas supply system

A transfer system for supplying a receiving tank of a receiving spacecraft with a supply gas from a supply spacecraft. A transfer tank is disposed on the supply spacecraft and configured to retain a supply gas. A transfer line is coupled to the transfer tank, and one end thereof may be coupled to th...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Nemeth, Kevin, Christy, Craig Alan, Mactavish, Andrew Ian, Behrens, John
Format: Patent
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
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Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:A transfer system for supplying a receiving tank of a receiving spacecraft with a supply gas from a supply spacecraft. A transfer tank is disposed on the supply spacecraft and configured to retain a supply gas. A transfer line is coupled to the transfer tank, and one end thereof may be coupled to the receiving tank. A transfer valve is operatively coupled to the transfer line. A heating system is thermally coupled to the transfer tank. A control system is operatively coupled to the transfer valve and the heating system. The control system is operable to cause a transfer quantity of the supply gas to be heated, and to open the transfer valve, such that a difference between the increased pressure of the supply gas in the transfer tank and a pressure in the receiving tank causes the transfer quantity of the supply gas to flow to the receiving tank.