We design a non-androgynous type, universal Assembly/Docking Device that could be used for put together two structures in space, it is useful for docking space vehicles as well as structures or modules, like the ones that are planned for "The Gateway".

This development is key to set up in space small satellites, medium spacecrafts and big structures (telescopes, space station modules, etc).

This device is composed by two subsystems: Male part (active) and Female part (passive).

The male part, it´s integrated by a electrical motor, an endless piston, and a ball joint at the end of it. (The motor is inside de the blue box).

The female part it´s made of a conical shaped mechanism, with a set of 4 electromagnets and a 4 springs in each side of the device.

Female Cover

This device works as follows: The electrical motor in the male part (mounted in space vehicle A) moves the endless piston forward until it reaches the docking station (mounted in space vehicle B) and the ball joint passes through the 4 "petals" of the female part, while the springs blocks any movement . Also the electrical motor, blocks any further movement of the piston, but if it´s needed, the powerful motor could generate backwards movement of the piston, "attracting" the spacecraft B to the spacecraft A.

If we want to release the female part, we activate the electromagnets and the petals will opens, because the electromagnetic force will be greater than the force of the springs.

Also in certain structures, as hotels or telescopes that doesn´t need to "unmount", our female part, won´t need the electromagnetic open array, and it could be suppressed.

The achievements we wanted to reach, were a universal, simple, secure and low cost device for both docking and assembling, making possible a fastest way to build things in space.