Spacecraft attitude control system using low thrust thrusters
US6053455A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 25, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/36
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft, such as a geosynchronous weather or communications satellite, is constructed to include a plurality of low thrust thrusters mounted at predetermined locations on at least one of a spacecraft appendage or a spacecraft bus. The plurality of low thrust thrusters are fired in pairs for at least one of removing a disturbance torque or providing fine pointing attitude control. In one embodiment the low thrust thrusters are mounted on a solar array panel, thereby increasing the moment arm and enhancing the thrust output of the low thrust thrusters. In one embodiment a spacecraft has a plurality of low thrust thrusters arranged as at least two sets of two low thrust thrusters, individual ones of the low thrust thrusters of a set being disposed in a V-configuration and mounted at predetermined locations on at least one of a spacecraft appendage or a spacecraft bus. The plurality of low thrust thrusters are selectively fired for achieving control of 3-axes of spacecraft attitude or momentum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.