|
Match
|
Document |
Document Title |
|
|
7219860 |
Spacecraft including control vanes having variable absorptive, reflective and emissive characteristics
A spacecraft including control vanes for controlling the pointing direction of the spacecraft by providing a variable absorptive, reflective, emissive and/or transmissive properties. The control...
|
|
|
7185856 |
Method for controlling the attitude of an satellites in elliptic orbits using solar radiation pressure
The present invention provides a method for the attitude control of satellites in elliptic orbits or satellites initially placed in circular orbits perturbed to elliptic orbits due to environmental...
|
|
|
7104506 |
Spacecraft disturbance trimming system
A spacecraft comprises a main body; at least one elongated solar wing extending from the main body, defining a generally flat plane and comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side edges; at...
|
|
|
7051981 |
Method for aligning a spacecraft
Controlling the solar torque imposed on a spacecraft ( 10 ) in flight by providing a film ( 52 ) with variable absorptive, reflective, emissive and/or transmissive properties on the sun side of a...
|
|
|
6921050 |
Solar torque control using thin film directionally reflective, emissive, absorptive and transmissive surfaces
Controlling the solar torque imposed on a spacecraft ( 10 ) in flight by providing a film ( 52 ) with variable absorptive, reflective, emissive and/or transmissive properties on the sun side of a...
|
|
|
6921048 |
Method and apparatus for minimizing solar array sun tracking disturbance by north and south solar array wing cancellation
A method and system for minimizing the solar array sun tracking disturbance is disclosed. The method separates the North solar array wing stepping and South solar array wing stepping in time, and...
|
|
|
6726153 |
Photon momentum transfer plane for asteroid, meteoroid, and comet orbit shaping
A spacecraft docks with a spinning and/or rotating asteroid, meteoroid, comet, or other space object, utilizing a tether shaped in a loop and utilizing subvehicles appropriately to control loop...
|
|
|
6689952 |
Large membrane space structure and method for its deployment and expansion
A large membrane space structure deployed and spanned by centrifugal force owing to the spin motion, contains a hub located at a central portion thereof and a sail including a plurality of petals...
|
|
|
6622970 |
Method and apparatus for autonomous solar navigation
A method and apparatus for autonomous navigation for deep space missions using the sun as the reference body and determining the spacecraft orbit based on observations made on the sun using onboard...
|
|
|
6609683 |
Supporting structure for a solar sail of a satellite
A supporting structure for a solar sail of a satellite is formed by support arms which are connected in a swiveling manner with a solar panel through unfolding joints, and a film is stretched...
|
|
|
6588708 |
Spacecraft methods and structures for acquiring and determining power-safe attitudes
The present invention is directed to spacecraft that have, for any reason, lost the spacecraft's service attitude that permits it to carry out the service operations for which it was designed. The...
|
|
|
6481671 |
Spacecraft sunshield for use in performing solar torque balancing
A spacecraft includes an articulating sunshield assembly that is capable of simultaneously performing thermal control functions and solar torque balancing for the spacecraft. The sunshield assembly...
|
|
|
6371413 |
Artificial satellite equipped with generators of magnetic and aerodynamic moments and control process for such a satellite
Orientation system and process of an artificial satellite in low orbit. Aerodynamic control surfaces producing rotations of the satellite by upper-layer atmosphere are combined along two axes to...
|
|
|
6260806 |
Method and apparatus for using a momentum bias to provide spacecraft attitude stabilization during an eclipse
The attitude of a spacecraft is controlled during an eclipse without the dependence on auxiliary power by configuring the spacecraft so that it will receive solar power after solar eclipse is...
|
|
|
6194790 |
Solar sail for power generation
The space-based solar power generating system is comprised of a flexible thin film photovoltaic sheet supported as a sail in the solar wind. The solar wind provides pointing support, deployment...
|
|
|
6189835 |
Apparatus for spacecraft angular momentum control through the use of reflective thermal blankets
A spacecraft having a pair of asymmetrical side-mounted antennas that are designed to control the net angular momentum of the spacecraft over a twenty-four hour period. One of the side-mounted...
|
|
|
6164597 |
Using reflected solar radiation pressure to provide stationkeeping maneuvering of a spacecraft
Methods that provide stationkeeping maneuvering of a yaw steered spacecraft that orbits around a central body, such as the Earth, and experiences solar radiation pressure produced by the sun. The...
|
|
|
6138061 |
Onboard orbit propagation using quaternions
A method for controlling orbiting spacecraft uploads a plurality of parameters to an onboard processor, the parameters including a plurality of quaternion elements describing an inertial to orbit...
|
|
|
6128556 |
CMG control based on angular momentum to control satellite attitude
Control moment gyros in an array are rotated to reorient a satellite. Gyro angle is selected from one of three values based upon whether the stored angular momentum for the desired angle is below a...
|
|
|
6102336 |
Passive device for stabilizing the direction in which a spacecraft points
A passive device for stabilizing the pointing direction of a spacecraft of the type comprising a pair of panels that are symmetrical about a gyroscopic stabilization axis, each panel having an...
|
|
|
6070833 |
Methods for reducing solar array power variations while managing the system influences of operating with off-pointed solar wings
Solar wing positioning methods are provided which favorably reduce seasonal variation of generated power in a satellite while simultaneously managing the composite system influence that off-pointed...
|
|
|
6062511 |
Device for adjusting a solar panel on a spacecraft, and spacecraft equipped with such a device
|
|
|
6042240 |
Adjustable three dimensional focal length tracking reflector array
A reflector for focusing sunlight upon a single location. The reflector is preferably positioned in orbit about a celestial body to focus sunlight on objects such as space debris to heat up and...
|
|
|
6003817 |
Actively controlled thermal panel and method therefor
One or more deployable thermal panels (24, 28, 70) are actively controlled throughout the orbit of a satellite (20) to provide thermal dissipation. Adjusting the incident angle between the panel...
|
|
|
5996942 |
Autonomous solar torque management
A method in accordance with this invention for maintaining a spacecraft in a desired orbital configuration, comprises the steps of: (a) recording a history of yaw momentum stored in momentum...
|
|
|
5934620 |
Spacecraft sun-target steering about an arbitrary body axis
A spacecraft traveling in a volume of space receiving radiation from a radiation source and having a spacecraft body having a first axis of symmetry, X, a second axis of symmetry, Y, and a third...
|
|
|
5895014 |
Satellite solar array and method of biasing to reduce seasonal output power fluctuations
Existing satellite solar arrays are deployed perpendicular to the satellite so that they rotate to track the daily movement of the sun to increase the solar array's' output power. In the present...
|
|
|
5887827 |
Method for producing extreme microgravity in extended volumes
An apparatus and method for use thereof in the creating of a nanogravity environment substantially throughout a working volume sufficient for performing a desired operation and existing for a...
|
|
|
5850992 |
Method for controlling the pitch attitude of a satellite by means of solar radiation pressure
A satellite embodying at least one surface intended mainly for exposure to solar radiation and extending away from the satellite in a predetermined direction (Y), an on board computer having...
|
|
|
5833176 |
Bowed solar array
A constrained solar array (24) for a satellite (20) and method for making the same are disclosed. The solar array (24) includes a superstructure (30) with solar cells (80) mounted thereon to...
|
|
|
5826828 |
Sun/earth acquisition without thrusters
Methods for performing attitude maneuvers of a spinning satellite without the use of thrusters, or with a minimal number of thrusters, are disclosed. The attitude maneuvers are primarily achieved...
|
|
|
5816540 |
Optimal solar tracking system
A spacecraft traveling in a volume of space receiving radiation from the sun and encountering an undesired force. The spacecraft has a solar panel movably attached to said spacecraft. The...
|
|
|
5806801 |
Method and system for formationkeeping between orbiting spacecraft by varying their ballistic coefficients
The present invention provides a method and system for formationkeeping between two or more orbiting spacecraft by controlling the surface area of the spacecraft facing the direction of...
|
|
|
5794891 |
Method of controlling the attitude control for satellites on an orbit inclined relative to the equator
The attitude of a satellite placed on a non-heliosynchronous earth orbit in a plane that is inclined relative to the equatorial plane of the earth is controlled for efficient use of solar panels...
|
|
|
5775645 |
Controlled-emission solar tabs for attitude solar sailing
Solar tabs are provided which have thermal emissivity and absorptivity properties designed to increase the attitude-control torques that can be generated with rotatable wings in a spacecraft. These...
|
|
|
5765780 |
Systematic vectored thrust calibration method for satellite momentum control
A method of simultaneously performing a translational maneuver of a spacecraft by a thruster and dumping momentum from the spacecraft during a time period P. The method entails aligning the...
|
|
|
5752675 |
Thruster control of yaw without yaw measurements
An automatic, on-board system for orbiting spacecraft that controls yaw excursions caused by solar torques and thruster firings, which system combines inputs indicative of roll and yaw momentum...
|
|
|
5742254 |
Three-axis stabilized geostationary satellite carrying out radar surveillance of the surrounding space
A geostationary satellite includes a three-axis stabilized body including an onboard computer and at least one solar generator wing extending in a longitudinal direction from the body and coupled...
|
|
|
5697582 |
Method of adjusting the position of satellites by means of solar pressure torques
A method for adjusting the orientation and for compensating interfering torques via solar pressure torques for a satellite moving on an orbit around the earth. The satellite has two solar...
|
|
|
5683060 |
Air vehicle
An air vehicle that includes a body lower portion, a body intermediate portion, body lower portion, a solar panel, elevating apparatus, gimbling apparatus, and inflatable landing gear. The body...
|
|
|
5669586 |
Satellite gravity gradient compensation using on-orbit solar array reorientation
A method for operating an orbiting spacecraft includes the steps of (a) changing a mass distribution of the spacecraft from a first mass distribution for setting a first principal moment of inertia...
|
|
|
5653407 |
Geocentric pointing three-axis stabilised satellite in low orbit with single-axis steerable solar generator
A satellite stabilized about a roll axis, a yaw axis and a pitch axis, for travel on an orbit with geocentric pointing towards a heavenly body, embodying a body and a solar generator adapted to...
|
|
|
5626315 |
Apparatus controlling the pitch attitude of a satellite by means of solar radiation pressure
A satellite embodying at least one surface intended mainly for exposure to solar radiation and extending away from the satellite in a predetermined direction (Y), an onboard computer having...
|
|
|
5618012 |
Satellite stabilization system
A satellite stabilization system compensates for the destabilizing torque introduced by solar radiation pressure by the emplacement of tabs of material angled relative to the back surfaces of the...
|
|
|
5310144 |
Method and apparatus for satellite torque balancing
A method and apparatus for balancing environmental disturbance torques acting upon a satellite (10) by tilting the satellite solar panels (14,16) toward or away from the sun to change the solar...
|
|
|
5305971 |
Spacecraft control by electrochromic devices
Electrochromic devices are applied to selected areas on a spacecraft. Radiant energy characteristics of the electrochromic devices are altered by applying appropriate electrical excitation signals...
|
|
|
5289998 |
Solar array output regulator using variable light transmission
A solar cell voltage regulating arrangement which is particularly advantageous for use in spacecraft includes a light valve such as a liquid crystal cell disposed before the solar cell, to thereby...
|
|
|
5257759 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a solar wing of a satellite using a sun sensor
This invention discloses a method for maintaining a desirable orientation of the solar wings of an orbiting satellite (10) relative to the sun. A dual array of sun sensors (26,28) is positioned on...
|
|
|
5211360 |
Spacecraft thermal disturbance control system
A spacecraft thermal disturbance control system for controlling the torque exerted on the main portion of a spacecraft as a result of a thermal gradient being applied to a portion of the spacecraft...
|
|
|
5183225 |
Statite: spacecraft that utilizes sight pressure and method of use
An artificial space object capable of operating usefully adjacent to, but not in orbit about, a celestial body such as the Earth, comprising: payload means for providing useful services from a...
|