Thales

Bruno Celerier

Jean-Didier Gayrard

Mathieu Dervin

A propulsion device for controlling the orbit of an earth-orbit satellite including a structure of which the orientation is maintained constant in relation to the Earth in an operational configuration of the satellite in the orbit; a center of mass of the satellite being contained in the structure of the satellite, includes two thrusters suitable for delivering a thrust according to one axis, and fixed to the structure of the satellite in the same half-space separated by the plane of the orbit. The thrusters are arranged on either side of a plane containing the center of mass and perpendicular to a Z-axis; the thrusters being configured in such a way that a force resulting from the thrusts of the two simultaneously activated thrusters represents a principal component according to a Y-axis of the satellite oriented perpendicular to the orbit.

Optimized propulsion device for controlling the orbit and attitude of a satellite

A propulsion system for the orbit control of a satellite in Earth orbit driven at a rate of displacement along an axis V tangential to the orbit comprises two propulsion modules, fixed to the satellite, and facing one another relative to the plane of the orbit, each of the propulsion modules comprising, in succession: a motorized rotation link about an axis parallel to the axis V; an offset arm; and a plate supporting two thrusters, suitable for delivering a thrust on an axis, arranged on the plate on either side of a plane P at right angles to the axis V passing through a center of mass of the satellite; each of the two thrusters being oriented in such a way that the thrust axes of the two thrusters are parallel to one another and at right angles to the axis V.

Propulsion system in two modules for satellite orbit control and attitude control

A telecommunication satellite with geostationary orbit comprises an upper module, a lower module, and a lateral module, disposed in a storage configuration between the upper module and the lower module, and deployed to an operational configuration of the satellite in the orbit by a rotation in relation to an axis Z oriented towards the earth in the operational configuration. The lateral module comprises two substantially plane and mutually parallel main surfaces, termed dissipative surfaces, able to dissipate by radiation a quantity of heat generated by facilities of the satellite; the dissipative surfaces being, in the operational configuration, held in a manner substantially parallel to the plane of the orbit, making it possible to limit the solar flux received by the dissipative surfaces and to optimize the quantity of heat dissipated by the lateral module.

Satellite with deployable payload modules

A propulsion system for controlling the orbit of a satellite in earth orbit comprises a thruster suitable for delivering a force along an axis F, and a motor-driven mechanism linked on the one hand to the thruster and on the other hand to a structure of the satellite, said motor-driven mechanism being suitable for displacing the thruster on either side of the plane of the orbit and suitable for orienting the thruster so as to make it possible to control a component perpendicular to the orbit of the force in two opposite directions, to control the inclination of the satellite, and in that said motor-driven mechanism is suitable for displacing the thruster along an axis V parallel to the velocity of the satellite, and suitable for orienting the thruster so as to make it possible to control a component of the force on the axis V, to control orbit.

Propulsion system for controlling the orbit and controlling the attitude of a satellite

A propulsion system for the orbit control of a satellite with terrestrial orbit having an angular momentum accumulation capacity comprises a propulsion unit able to deliver a force along an axis F having a component perpendicular to the orbit, and a motorized mechanism connected on the one hand to the propulsion unit and on the other hand to a structure of the satellite, the motorized mechanism being able to displace the propulsion unit along an axis V parallel to the velocity of the satellite, and able to orient the propulsion unit so as to make it possible to control: a component of the force along the axis V, for orbit control, an amplitude and a direction of couple in a plane perpendicular to the axis F, for control of the angular momentum.

Propulsion system for satellite orbit control and attitude control

A propulsion system for the orbital control of a satellite with terrestrial orbit travelling with a speed of displacement along an axis V tangential to the orbit comprises two propulsion assemblies, fixed to the satellite facing one another with respect to the plane of the orbit, each of the propulsion assemblies comprising two propulsion modules; each of the propulsion modules successively comprising: a motorized link for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis V, an offset arm, and a platen supporting a propulsion unit able to deliver a thrust oriented along an axis perpendicular to the axis V; the two propulsion modules of each propulsion assembly being linked to the satellite on either side and substantially at equal distances from a plane perpendicular to the axis V passing through a centre of mass of the satellite.

Propulsion system with four modules for satellite orbit control and attitude control

A distance measurement system for locating a geostationary satellite equipped with a transponder includes: a central station emitting a distance measurement signal; and at least one measurement station receiving the emitted signal, including means for measuring the time of arrival of the emitted signal, and transmitted via the transponder of the satellite. The central and measurement stations, of known positions, include synchronization means with a common time base. The transponder is that of a satellite telecommunications system, and has a bandwidth B. The central station includes means for emitting a specific distance measurement signal, distinct from the telecommunications signals transmitted via the transponder, with periodic events and with spread spectrum, the bandwidth of which is included in B.

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Auribeau sur Siagne, France

Bruno Celerier