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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5765780 | Systematic vectored thrust calibration method for satellite momentum control A method of simultaneously performing a translational maneuver of a spacecraft by a thruster and dumping momentum from the spacecraft during a time period P. The method entails aligning the thruster along a thrust vector which is fixed during the time per... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5752675 | Thruster control of yaw without yaw measurements An automatic, on-board system for orbiting spacecraft that controls yaw excursions caused by solar torques and thruster firings, which system combines inputs indicative of roll and yaw momentum increases and inputs containing information comprising the un... | 05/19/1998 |
| 5742254 | Three-axis stabilized geostationary satellite carrying out radar surveillance of the surrounding space A geostationary satellite includes a three-axis stabilized body including an onboard computer and at least one solar generator wing extending in a longitudinal direction from the body and coupled to the body by a drive system controlled by the onboard com... | 04/21/1998 |
| 5697582 | Method of adjusting the position of satellites by means of solar pressure torques A method for adjusting the orientation and for compensating interfering torques via solar pressure torques for a satellite moving on an orbit around the earth. The satellite has two solar generators arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of a main body ... | 12/16/1997 |
| 5683060 | Air vehicle An air vehicle that includes a body lower portion, a body intermediate portion, body lower portion, a solar panel, elevating apparatus, gimbling apparatus, and inflatable landing gear. The body lower portion has a body lower portion outer surface and cont... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5669586 | Satellite gravity gradient compensation using on-orbit solar array reorientation A method for operating an orbiting spacecraft includes the steps of (a) changing a mass distribution of the spacecraft from a first mass distribution for setting a first principal moment of inertia of the spacecraft along a first axis approximately equal ... | 09/23/1997 |
| 5653407 | Geocentric pointing three-axis stabilised satellite in low orbit with single-axis steerable solar generator A satellite stabilized about a roll axis, a yaw axis and a pitch axis, for travel on an orbit with geocentric pointing towards a heavenly body, embodying a body and a solar generator adapted to collect solar radiation, characterized in that the generator ... | 08/05/1997 |
| 5626315 | Apparatus controlling the pitch attitude of a satellite by means of solar radiation pressure A satellite embodying at least one surface intended mainly for exposure to solar radiation and extending away from the satellite in a predetermined direction (Y), an onboard computer having connected thereto an attitude sensing system, an orbit control sy... | 05/06/1997 |
| 5618012 | Satellite stabilization system A satellite stabilization system compensates for the destabilizing torque introduced by solar radiation pressure by the emplacement of tabs of material angled relative to the back surfaces of the antenna reflectors to intercept solar rays. The material of... | 04/08/1997 |
| 5312073 | Method for controlling the pitch attitude of a satellite by means of solar radiation pressure and satellite, in particular an electric propulsion satellite, suitable for implementation of the method A satellite embodying at least one surface intended mainly for exposure to solar radiation and extending away from the satellite in a predetermined direction (Y), an on-board computer having connected thereto an attitude sensing system, an orbit control s... | 05/17/1994 |
| 5310144 | Method and apparatus for satellite torque balancing A method and apparatus for balancing environmental disturbance torques acting upon a satellite (10) by tilting the satellite solar panels (14,16) toward or away from the sun to change the solar pressure acting upon the satellite (10) as well as the gravit... | 05/10/1994 |
| 5305971 | Spacecraft control by electrochromic devices Electrochromic devices are applied to selected areas on a spacecraft. Radiant energy characteristics of the electrochromic devices are altered by applying appropriate electrical excitation signals to the devices to create a force on the spacecraft due to ... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5289998 | Solar array output regulator using variable light transmission A solar cell voltage regulating arrangement which is particularly advantageous for use in spacecraft includes a light valve such as a liquid crystal cell disposed before the solar cell, to thereby controllably vary the light transmission to the solar cell... | 03/01/1994 |
| 5257759 | Method and apparatus for controlling a solar wing of a satellite using a sun sensor This invention discloses a method for maintaining a desirable orientation of the solar wings of an orbiting satellite (10) relative to the sun. A dual array of sun sensors (26,28) is positioned on a body (12) of the satellite (10) in order to get a measur... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5211360 | Spacecraft thermal disturbance control system A spacecraft thermal disturbance control system for controlling the torque exerted on the main portion of a spacecraft as a result of a thermal gradient being applied to a portion of the spacecraft that projects from the spacecraft's main portion. The spa... | 05/18/1993 |
| 5183225 | Statite: spacecraft that utilizes sight pressure and method of use An artificial space object capable of operating usefully adjacent to, but not in orbit about, a celestial body such as the Earth, comprising: payload means for providing useful services from a position in space adjacent to the Earth, light pressure propul... | 02/02/1993 |
| 5158250 | Spin-stabilized artificial satellite with passive compensation of solar radiation pressure A satellite adapted to be stabilized in terrestrial orbit by rotation about an axis oriented at least approximately NORTH-SOUTH has on its external wall a solar generator composed of a plurality of columns of solar cells divided into groups adapted to sup... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5149022 | Satellite roll and yaw attitude control method A method to control the attitude in roll (X) and in yaw (Z) of a satellite including two solar generator panels adapted to be oriented independently of each other about a pitch axis. In a preliminary stage: two geometrical axes x and z are selected in the... | 09/22/1992 |
| 5133518 | Attitude control device using solar sails for a satellite stabilized on three axes An attitude control device for a satellite stabilized on three axes including a pitch axis comprises two solar generator wings extending in opposite directions away from a satellite body on respective longitudinal axes at least approximately parallel to t... | 07/28/1992 |
| 4949922 | Satellite control system A method for achieving satellite (24) attitude stabilization against the undesired influences of solar pressure or other attitude disturbances to be used with earth-orbiting satellites of the type employing two solar collection panels (30a), (30b) extendi... | 08/21/1990 |
| 4909460 | Device and method for aiming a space probe toward a celestial body Device and method for aiming a space probe toward a celestial body. It comprises a solar sail (30, 31) having an asymmetry about an axis (Z) and which subjects the probe (S) to a tilting torque of solar pressure. A kinetic wheel (20) turns about a perpend... | 03/20/1990 |
| 4759517 | Station-keeping using solar sailing Satellite is maintained in the geostationary orbit about the equator by use of solar sails. These solar sails are oriented to use the sun's radiation pressure to sail the satellite in a first direction for a first portion of the orbit and in a second oppo... | 07/26/1988 |
| 4732354 | Active damping of satellite nutation For controlling nutation of a three-axis stabilized satellite, the angular speed of a solar panel carried by the satellite is selectively and temporarily varied about an average value for modifying the inertia cross-product thereof and generating an angul... | 03/22/1988 |
| 4728061 | Spacecraft operable in two alternative flight modes A spacecraft is adapted for orbital flight in two alternative modes, referred to as the earth-oriented and quasi sun-oriented modes. The spacecraft comprises a spacecraft body, at least one solar array extendible outwardly from the spacecraft body, passiv... | 03/01/1988 |
| 4684084 | Spacecraft structure with symmetrical mass center and asymmetrical deployable appendages An orbiting satellite system includes an asymmetrically deployed antenna and two deployable solar cell arrays. The solar cell arrays are deployed to a location which compensates for the asymmetry of the antenna so that the resulting station keeping thrust... | 08/04/1987 |
| 4591116 | Attitude control for satellites The attitude control is provided under utilization of the solar wind in that the effective surface area of solar panels facing the sun is controlled in accordance with certain rules of asymmetry and under utilization of pulling cable so that an imbalance ... | 05/27/1986 |
| 4426052 | Process and device for aligning the roll axis of a satellite with a desired direction Device for aligning the roll axis of a rotating artificial satellite having radial solar panels equipped with angularly movable control surfaces at their extremities. The device includes a motor associated with each control surface for controlling the ang... | 01/17/1984 |
| 4345728 | Method for controlling the attitude of a spinning spacecraft in the presence of solar pressure The torque from differential solar pressure acting on a spinning spacecraft body and tending to tilt the spacecraft about an axis transverse to the spin axis, is reduced or eliminated by shifting the center of gravity of the spacecraft axially or longitud... | 08/24/1982 |
| 4326685 | Sun-sensing guidance system for high-altitude aircraft A sun-sensing guidance system (10) for high-altitude aircraft (A) characterized by a disk-shaped body (14) mounted for rotation aboard the aicraft in exposed relation to solar radiation and having a plurality of mutually isolated chambers (28a, 28b, 32a, ... | 04/27/1982 |
| 4262867 | Apparatus for modifying position and attitude of a spacecraft The position and attitude of a spacecraft is modified by selectively adjusting the positions of panels and vanes extending from the spacecraft body, relative to the direction of the ambient solar radiation.... | 04/21/1981 |
| 3996804 | Method for remotely determining the dynamic imbalance of and for changing the spin rate and center of gravity of a spinning body A method for remotely determining the dynamic imbalance of and for changing the spin rate and center of gravity of a spinning spacecraft which utilizes the communications channel between the spacecraft and the receiving terminal, the master index pulse ge... | 12/14/1976 |
