Patent · US Expired

Observation space vehicle having a laser-based measurement system

US5367371A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
7References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 21, 1993
Grant dateNov 22, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 21, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A90/10
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An observation spacecraft designed for the quantitative evaluation of the activity within a fluid mass borne by a planet embodying a platform adapted to follow an orbit around the planet and including a roll axis designed to be parallel with that orbit and a yaw axis designed to be oriented toward the center of the planet, and an observation assembly composed of a laser generator, a frequency measuring unit, and first and second telescopes, respectively equipped with a sight element having a sight axis designed to be orientated toward the planet; the telescopes are designed to send, from the laser generator, beams that are transmitted from along the sight axes, and to receive, along these axes, reflected beams which they then apply to the frequency measuring unit. The first and second sight elements are connected with the platform by means of rotary motors whose axes are parallel with the roll axis, the first and second sight axes projecting themselves in opposite directions along the roll axis.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.