Towing apparatus for a spacecraft when in orbit and a towing spacecraft

1. A towing apparatus for a spacecraft that may be potentially towed when in orbit, the towing apparatus comprising:

a cable, the first end of which is permanently connected to the spacecraft, and the second end of which is at least temporarily connectable to a towing spacecraft for the purpose of towing;

an attachment piece disposed on the second end of the cable, the attachment piece is mechanically attachable to a complementary attachment piece of the towing spacecraft;

a positioning aid disposed on the cable to allow for detection of the attachment piece by the towing spacecraft;

a cable receiver that stores the cable; and

a release device configured to issue an actuation signal to the cable receiver when both:

(i) an approach of the towing spacecraft is detected and

(ii) a malfunction of the spacecraft containing the towing apparatus is detected,

wherein the cable receiver is configured to extend the cable for attachment to the complementary attachment piece of the towing spacecraft in order to tow the spacecraft containing the towing apparatus.

2. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a mass is disposed on the second end of the cable, the mass being constituted in such a way as to reduce the tumbling motion of the cable or of the satellite.

3. The towing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the mass is provided by the attachment piece or the positioning aid.

4. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cable is of a length measuring from 5 to 25 m.

5. The towing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the cable is of a length measuring from 8 to 12 m.

6. The towing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the cable is of a length of 10 m.

7. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment piece is a standardized adapter.

8. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning aid includes a reflector or a permanent magnet.

9. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the release device is electrically operated.

10. The towing apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the release device has an independent power supply.

11. The towing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the independent power supply is a solar cell.

12. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the release device is able to be operated mechanically.

13. The towing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

detection means connected to the release device, the detection means detecting the approach of a towing spacecraft and supplies the release device with the actuation signal when a certain relative distance falls below a specified value so as to initiate the extending of the cable.

14. A spacecraft, comprising:

a towing apparatus, the towing apparatus comprising

a cable, the first end of which is permanently connected to the spacecraft, and the second end of which is at least temporarily connectable to a towing spacecraft for the purpose of towing;

an attachment piece disposed on the second end of the cable, the attachment piece is mechanically attachable to a complementary attachment piece of the towing spacecraft;

a positioning aid disposed on the cable to allow for detection of the attachment piece by the towing spacecraft;

a cable receiver that stores the cable; and

a release device configured to issue an actuation signal to the cable receiver when both:

(i) an approach of the towing spacecraft is detected and

(ii) a malfunction of the spacecraft containing the towing apparatus is first detected,

wherein the cable receiver is configured to extend the cable for attachment to the complementary attachment piece of the towing spacecraft in order to tow the spacecraft containing the towing apparatus.

15. The towing apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:

detection means connected to the release device, the detection means detecting the approach of a towing spacecraft and supplies the release device with the actuation signal when a certain relative distance falls below a specified value so as to initiate the extending of the cable.

16. The towing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the release device has an independent power supply that is a solar cell.