Spacecraft design with semi-rigid solar array
US11760510B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 2020 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02S40/42
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft includes a semi-rigid solar array and a main body structure, the main body structure configured as a convex polyhedron and including an aft and a forward face disposed opposite to the aft face and at least four side faces disposed between and approximately orthogonal to the aft face and the forward face. The solar array includes a number of panels linked together with flexible couplings. In an undeployed configuration, panels of the solar array cover at least two adjacent side faces, the flexible couplings providing an articulable joint approximately aligned with a line along which the two adjacent side faces are joined and connecting a first panel of the solar array and a second panel of the solar array, the first panel being proximal to a first side face and the second panel being proximal to a second side face.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.