Abstract. The development of the small spacecraft (SSC) market necessitates the creation of a new class of space vehicles – small space tugs (SST). An analysis of SST design principles has shown that they remain operational after completing their primary mission of interorbital SSC transportation. This paper proposes the further utilization of the SST as a spacecraft to address additional mission objectives, thereby enhancing its operational efficiency. Conceptual aspects of implementing the additional use of SSTs are examined. Practice shows that rocket and space technology products commonly possess residual resources. The primary reasons for their availability are discussed. These residual resources can be utilized to accommodate additional mission-specific equipment on the SST. The payload mass for an SST as a transport vehicle is inherently variable, which can result in a reserve of transportable mass. This mass reserve can be allocated for an auxiliary payload (APL). The concept involves accounting for the systemic impact of the APL on the SST and other components of the space complex. As it leverages pre-existing hardware, this concept increases the overall output effect generated by the SST with minimal additional costs.

Keywords: small space tug, additional utilization, concept, efficiency, implementation conditions

For citation: Kislitsky M. I. Concept for the additional utilization of a small space tug. Aerospace Engineering and Technology. 2025. Vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 504–515. https://doi.org/10.52467/2949-401X-2025-3-3-504-515. EDN ISARNP (In Russian)