Busek Company, Inc.

Other

James J Szabo

Vladimir J Hruby

Bruce M Pote

Vlad Hruby

Charles J Gasdaska

Jesse V Gray

Matthew R Berlin

Thomas R Roy

Lawrence Byrne

Kurt Hohman

Peter Rostler

Mike Robin

Tom Brogan

Surjeet Paintal

Craig DeLuccia

Michael Robin

Jay Andrews

Rachel A Tedrake

W Dan Williams

Juraj Kolencik

A spacecraft system and method includes a platform with a dock and an umbilical payout device. A robot is connected to an umbilical paid out by the umbilical payout device and is repeatedly deployable from the dock. The robot includes one or more imagers, an inertial measurement unit, and a plurality of thrusters. A command module receives image data from the one or more robot imagers and orientation data from the inertial measurement unit. An object recognition module is configured to recognize one or more objects from the received image data. The command module determines the robot's orientation with respect to an object and issues thruster control commands to control movement of the robot based on the robot's orientation. The combination of the space platform and robot on umbilical line can be used for towing another object to different orbital location, inspection including self-inspection of the robot carrying platform and for robotic servicing.

Spacecraft system for debris disposal and other operations and methods pertaining to the same

A Hall thruster for use with a condensable propellant including a plasma accelerator including an anode for providing plasma discharge, a distributor for distributing the condensable propellant in a liquid or vaporized state, and an electric circuit including a cathode for emitting electrons attracted to the anode and for neutralizing ion flux emitted from the plasma accelerator. A condensable propellant feed system includes a storage vessel for storing the condensable propellant and providing liquid condensable propellant at a controlled pressure. A condensable propellant flow controller includes a pressure reducing device for controlling the flow rate of the liquid condensable propellant. A vaporizer at or above the vaporization temperature of the liquid condensable propellant vaporizes the liquid condensable propellant at a predetermined vaporization rate and flow rate. A magnetic circuit structure includes a magnetic field source for establishing a transverse magnetic field in the plasma accelerator that creates an impedance to the flow of the electrons toward the anode to create plasma in the plasma accelerator for accelerating ionized condensable propellant through the plasma accelerator to create a flux of ions.

Hall thruster for use with a condensable propellant

An iodine fueled plasma generator system includes a plasma generator. At least one storage vessel is configured to store condensed phase iodine therein. A heating device proximate to the storage vessel is configured to create iodine vapor from the condensed phase iodine. A propellant management subsystem is configured to deliver the iodine vapor to the plasma generator. A feedback control subsystem is responsive to one or more of plasma generator discharge current, the pressure of the iodine vapor, and/or the temperature of the iodine vapor configured to regulate the flow rate of the iodine vapor to the plasma generator.

Iodine fueled plasma generator system

A Hall thruster with a shared magnetic structure including a plurality of plasma accelerators each including an anode and a discharge zone for providing plasma discharge. An electrical circuit having one or more cathodes connected to the plurality of plasma accelerators emits electrons that are attracted to the anode in each of the plasma accelerators. A shared magnetic circuit structure establishes a transverse magnetic field in each of the plurality of plasma accelerators that creates an impedance to the flow of electrons toward the anode in each of the plurality of plasma accelerators and enables ionization of a gas moving through one or more of the plurality of plasma accelerators. The impedance localizes an axial electric field in the plurality of plasma accelerators for accelerating ionized gas through the one or more of the plurality of plasma accelerators to create thrust.

Hall thruster with shared magnetic structure

An air/atmosphere breathing electrically powered Hall effect thruster including a thruster duct having an inlet, an exit, and a discharge zone between the inlet and the exit for receiving air from the inlet into the discharge zone, an electrical circuit having a cathode for emitting electrons and an anode in the discharge zone for attracting the electrons from the cathode through the exit, and a magnetic circuit for establishing a magnetic field in the discharge zone radially across the duct between the anode and exit which creates an impedance to the flow of electrons toward the anode and enables ionization of the air/atmosphere moving through the discharge zone and which creates an axial electric field in the duct for accelerating ionized air/atmosphere through the exit to create thrust.

Air breathing electrically powered hall effect thruster

A water filtration system for both fresh and salt water aquariums. The filter system housing is situated above the aquarium and consequently the aquarium water level thereby allowing gravity and not an integral system pump to return water to the aquarium after undergoing the filtration process. The water flow return rate to the aquarium is always matched exactly to the rate at which water is pumped into the filter system housing by a separate pump which is not a part of this invention. As a direct result of this, complicated valving and synchronization of pumps is not required. Gravity moves the water after intake over a distribution plate assembly and drop it over the entire surface of the biological filter material without the need for moving parts which may fail or wear out during continuous operation. Both mechanical and biological filtration occurs before the water is returned by gravity to the aquarium.

Aquarium water filter system

Growing community of inventors

Bedford, MA, United States of America

James J Szabo