Satellite stand-off tether system

[0017]An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the figures using reference designations as shown in the figures. Referring to FIG. 1, a based spacecraft and a tether spacecraft are initially juxtaposed in a towed position. The base spacecraft includes a stand-off reel drive motor for extending and retracting a flexible semi-rigid stand-off. A top tether drive motor and a bottom tether drive motor are used to release and take-up a tether extending between the top and bottom drive motor and along the standoff, around a pulley couple to the distal end of the stand-off, and back again along the stand-off. A clamp is used to fasten the tethered spacecraft to the tether. The claim is preferably a nut and screw fastener for coupling to the tether and is preferably bolted to the tethered spacecraft. In a stowed position, the stand-off is fully retracted so as to position the pulley to an interior position within the two spacecraft, and in the preferred form, to position th