Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Garrett P Simard

Andrew D Roberts

Pieter Buysschaert

Mohammed Faraz Admani

Samuel T Reineman

Joshua A Dunford

Brent Crabtree

McKenzie W Read

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for transitioning a spacecraft from a power-saving state to a power-consuming state at a time after launch of the spacecraft on a launch vehicle. Because the spacecraft can detect conditions for transitioning to the power-consuming state, commands received via an umbilical connection to the launch vehicle, or detecting the presence or absence of such a connection, is unnecessary, thereby removing several technical barriers to eliminating such umbilical connections altogether.

Pre-deployment battery power conservation for spacecraft

A spacecraft chassis includes a chassis body defined by first and second opposing sides bound by a perimeter, wherein at least one heat-generating component is configured to be secured directly to the chassis body, and at least one heat dissipating feature configured to radiate heat generated from the at least one heat-generating component into outer space.

Spacecraft chassis and component configuration

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for autonomously transitioning a spacecraft from a power-saving state to a power-consuming state at a time after launch of the spacecraft on a launch vehicle. Because the spacecraft can autonomously detect conditions for transitioning to the power-consuming state, commands received via an umbilical connection to the launch vehicle, or detecting the presence or absence of such a connection, is unnecessary, thereby removing several technical barriers to eliminating such umbilical connections altogether. In some embodiments, low-cost vacuum detection devices that use very small amounts of power may be used by the spacecraft to detect when the spacecraft has reached an altitude suitable for transitioning to the power-consuming state.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Garrett P Simard