Attitude control system for spacecraft utilizing the thruster plume
US4407469A · kind A · utility
12Cited by
9References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1981 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/26
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An attitude control system for spacecraft having thrusters utilizes the exhaust plume of the thrusters for attitude control. At least one of the thrusters is canted so that its reaction line of thrust, when misaligned with one of the spacecraft's primary axes; causes a control torque to develop about said axis which aids the plume torque about said axis resulting from the plume of the one thruster impinging on a surface such as that of a solar panel on the spacecraft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.