Apparatus for spacecraft angular momentum control through the use of reflective thermal blankets
US6189835A · kind A · utility
18Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/503
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spacecraft having a pair of asymmetrical side-mounted antennas that are designed to control the net angular momentum of the spacecraft over a twenty-four hour period. One of the side-mounted antennas is a dual surface antenna having a front surface that has a reflective sunshield overlay thereon and a rear surface. The rear surface of this side mounted antenna has a reflective blanket attached directly to the rear surface of the antenna that has low-.alpha. properties to control the solar or radiation force acting on the spacecraft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.