Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a capture mechanism for capturing and locking onto the Marman flange located on the exterior surfaces of spacecraft/satellites. The capture mechanism achieves its goal of quickly capturing a target spacecraft by splitting the two basic actions involved into two separate mechanisms. One mechanism performs the quick grasp of the target while the other mechanism rigidizes that grasp to ensure that the target is held as firmly as desired. The jaws can be set up to grasp gently, firmly, or even not close completely on the target. Once the jaws have sprung shut, a second mechanism draws the jaws (and their closing mechanism) back into the body of the tool pulling the captured target onto two rigidization surfaces. The mechanism keeps pulling backwards until a pre-established preload is reached at which point the target is considered suitably rigidized to the capture mechanism.

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First Claim