Energy managed electric propulsion methods and systems for stationkeeping satellites
US6581880B2 · kind B2 · utility
12Cited by
18References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jun 24, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/428
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electric propulsion (EP) device is used to enable, a stationkeeping satellite to track a prescribed stationkeeping Earth orbit. EP propellant and electric power are throttled to vary the thrust and specific impulse of the EP device. A solar array provides electrical power during each Earth day cycle with excess power above that needed by the spacecraft stored by a battery. Software control manages the voltage, current and burn time to minimize propellant usage and impact to the system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.