Spacecraft methods and structures for acquiring and determining power-safe attitudes
US6588708B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/44
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to spacecraft that have, for any reason, lost the spacecraft's service attitude that permits it to carry out the service operations for which it was designed. The invention provides methods and structures for acquiring and determining a power-safe attitude (i.e., one in which wing current is sufficient to support the spacecraft's housekeeping operations) from which the spacecraft can be subsequently returned to a service attitude. The methods are particularly useful because they a) require only a single star tracker for sensing attitude, comprise simple maneuvers, and typically acquire a power-safe attitude that does not significantly differ from the spacecraft's service attitude to thereby reduce the spacecraft's return-to-service time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.