US 11,718,425 B2
Spacecraft systems airlock for international space station access and interface and methods of operation
Michael David Johnson, Tomball, TX (US); Mark David Rowley, Friendswood, TX (US); Michael Desmond Lewis, Kernah, TX (US); and J. Brockton Howe, League City, TX (US)
Assigned to NANORACKS, LLC, Webster, TX (US)
Filed by NanoRacks, LLC, Webster, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/62,103.
Application 17/062,103 is a continuation of application No. 15/910,907, filed on Mar. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,850,872.
Application 15/910,907 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/264,238, filed on Sep. 13, 2016, granted, now 10,569,911, issued on Feb. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/218,427, filed on Sep. 14, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/217,883, filed on Sep. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0031953 A1, Feb. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. B64G 1/64 (2006.01); B64G 1/52 (2006.01); B64G 1/14 (2006.01); B64G 1/60 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/641 (2013.01) [B64G 1/52 (2013.01); B64G 1/646 (2013.01); B64G 1/14 (2013.01); B64G 1/60 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spacecraft airlock, comprising:
an end module including a passive common berthing mechanism positioned around an open end of the end module and configured to selectively engage and receive pressurized air from a space station or transportation vehicle;
a cylindrical sidewall adjoining the passive common berthing mechanism of the end module; and
an endwall adjoining the cylindrical sidewall, opposite the passive common berthing mechanism of the open end of the end module, wherein the cylindrical sidewall and the endwall together form an exterior surface of the spacecraft airlock, the exterior surface including:
at least one attachment mechanism configured to releasably attach one or more vacuum exposed payloads to the exterior surface;
at least one connection mechanism configured to releasably attach at least one heat sink to the exterior surface; and
at least one grappling fixture configured to engage a robotic grappling arm of the space station.