Power train for deep space solar electric propulsion

US10954005B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• Space Systems/Loral, LLC · US
• CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · US

Inventors

• Peter W. Lord · Mountain View, US
• Gregory Alan Carr · Agua Dulce, US
• Jorge Delgado · Hialeah, US
• Dan M. Goebel · Pasadena, US
• Bao Hoang · San Francisco, US
• David Oh · Sunnyvale, US
• Lee Charles Rotlisberger · San Jose, US
• Christopher B. Stell · Valencia, US
• Denis Trofimov · Palo Alto, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 2017
• Grant date: Mar 23, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05F1/67
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A spacecraft includes a power train that includes a solar array, an electric propulsion subsystem, and a power conversion module. The power conversion module receives power from the solar array at a voltage, Vi; and delivers power to the electric propulsion subsystem at a voltage, Vo. The spacecraft is configured to operate at a varying distance, D, from the sun within the range of Dmin to Dmax, Dmax being at least 1.3×Dmin. The solar array is configured to deliver power to the power conversion module at a voltage approximately equal to Vo when the spacecraft is proximate to Dmax.