Methods for reducing solar array power variations while managing the system influences of operating with off-pointed solar wings
Patent 6070833 Issued on June 6, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date: 
April 9, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
April 9, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesMethod and apparatus for satellite torque balancing Satellite gravity gradient compensation using on-orbit solar array reorientation Method of adjusting the position of satellites by means of solar pressure torques Satellite solar array and method of biasing to reduce seasonal output power fluctuations Patent #: 5895014 InventorsApplicationNo. 058058 filed on 04/09/1998US Classes:244/168, By solar pressure244/164Attitude controlExaminersPrimary: Poon, Peter M.Assistant: Ducker, Charles R. Jr. Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesB64G 001/36B64G 001/24 B64G 001/44 AbstractSolar wing positioning methods are provided which favorably reduce seasonal variation of generated power in a satellite while simultaneously managing the composite system influence that off-pointed solar wing operation imposes on the satellite. The composite system influence includes environmental torques and may also include other system influences such as wing-to-body thermal radiation, thruster plume impingement and antenna/sensor field of view encroachment. In the simplest method embodiment, the solar wings are tilted asymmetrically from a nominal position to reduce seasonal power variations and are further tilted symmetrically to generate a solar pressure torque component which, on a diurnal average basis, compensates a gravity gradient torque component that is substantially generated by the net, off-pointed configuration of the wings.Other References
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