Etec Systems, Inc.

Aeroastro, Inc.

Etec System, Inc.

Daniel B DeBra

Richard David Fleeter

Mark A Gesley

William A Eckes

David Goldstein

Paul Gloyer

Zeno Wahl

The excess space and weight capacity that is typical of a launch of large satellites to high-energy orbits, such as a geosynchronous orbit, is used to deploy small satellites at a substantially lower-energy orbit, such as a low-earth orbit. An orbit-transfer vehicle provides the navigation, propulsion, and control systems required to transport a payload satellite from a geosynchronous-transfer orbit (GTO) to a predetermined low-earth orbit (LEO). Depending upon the particular configuration, upon achieving the low-earth orbit, the orbit transfer vehicle either releases the payload satellite, or remains attached to the payload satellite to provide support services, such as power, communications, and navigation, to the payload satellite. To reduce the fuel requirements for this deployment via the orbit-transfer vehicle, the orbit-transfer vehicle employs aerobraking to bring the satellite into a low-earth orbit. The aerobraking is preferably performed at a nominal altitude of 150 km above the earth, where the atmosphere is dense enough to allow for a reasonably sized drogue device, yet rare enough to avoid the need for special purpose heat-shielding materials. In a preferred operation, the provider of the orbit-transfer vehicle identifies and secures available excess capacity on geosynchronous-transfer launch vehicles, and allocates the excess capacity to the satellites requiring low-earth orbit deployment, thereby providing a deployment means that is virtually transparent to the purchaser of this deployment service.

Aerobraking orbit transfer vehicle

An improved electron or ion gun support structure includes a hollow cylinder for rigidly connecting the source assembly to the source-motion ring, with the source cathode and associated lens extending into the hollow portion of the cylinder. The gun is thus made very stable and less susceptible to outside vibrations.

Mechanically stable field emission gun

A laminar flow diffuser has a plurality of round, thin, stacked plates. A central bore penetrates all the plates with the exception of the bottom plate. The diffuser is secured to the vacuum chamber port. When gas enters the port, it enters the central bore and then flows radially outward through the interplate spaces to the outer circumference of the plates and subsequently into the periphery of the chamber. The diffuser thereby provides a controlled laminar flow which prevents turbulence in the chamber and hence, reduces the possibility of contamination to the workpiece in the chamber. The laminar flow diffuser is easily cleaned, both during its initial assembly and later after use, because it chiefly has flat surfaces which do not harbor dirt or gas.

Laminar flow gas diffuser

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Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Daniel B DeBra