Method for orbit control and desaturation of a satellite by means of a single articulated arm carrying a propulsion unit
US11697513B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 2021 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/2425
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method (50) for orbit control of a satellite (10) in Earth orbit and for desaturation of an angular momentum storage device of the satellite, the satellite (10) including an articulated arm (21) suitable for moving a propulsion unit (31) within a motion volume included in a half-space delimited by an orbital plane when the satellite is in a mission attitude, the method (50) including a single-arm control mode using only the propulsion unit (31) carried by the articulated arm (21), the single-arm control mode using a maneuvering plan including only thrust maneuvers to be executed when the satellite (10) is located within an angular range of at most 180° centered on a target node in the orbit of the satellite (10), including two thrust maneuvers to be performed respectively upstream and downstream of the target node.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.