US Patent Issued to Astrobotic Technology on May 27 for "Exploration vehicle stowage and deployment systems" (Utah, New York, Pennsylvania Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,312,104, issued on May 27, was assigned to Astrobotic Technology (Pittsburgh).

"Exploration vehicle stowage and deployment systems" was invented by Troy Arbuckle (Farmington, Utah), Cedric Corpa De La Fuente (Pittsburgh), Kerry Quinn (Pittsburgh), Mike Provenzano (Jamaica, N.Y.) and Andrea Davis (Pittsburgh).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A pair of opposing, spaced apart bracket assemblies is mounted on a lower surface of a landing vehicle deck with each bracket assembly having a latch receiver extending therefrom. A pair of opposing, spaced apart latch assemblies is mounted on an upper surface of an exploration vehicle with each latch as...