Boeing North American, Inc.

The Boeing Company

Rockwell International Corporation

John E Davis

Tibor I Lak

James F Weber

David L Gerhardt

Timothy L Gaynor, Iii

Gene Rogers

Michael V Merlin

Tilman W Stuhlinger

Kenneth R Castle

Marion N Todd

Veron R Creekmore

Mitchell Ruda

Henry H Liao

Marion Todd

A first pair of antennas are mounted on a satellite spaced along a first axis and a second pair of antennas are spaced along a second axis for receiving signals from another satellite in orbit with the satellite, the first and second axes being orthogonal to a yaw axis that points toward the centroid of the celestial body about which the satellite orbits. Each pair of antennas are used to derive phase angle and signal strength differences, and these differences are used for deducing a yaw orientation of the satellite about the yaw axis.

Sensor system and method for determining yaw orientation of a satellite

An optical sensor includes dual fields of view including a panoramic field of view spanning 360&deg; in azimuth angle in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the sensor, and a limb-looking field of view non-perpendicular to the axis for viewing the limb of the earth. Both fields of view are imaged onto annular regions of one of more focal plane arrays comprising pixels arranged in a rectangular array of rows and columns. The sensor is used in a method for capturing rate and direction of rotation of a satellite about its axes and for detecting orientation of the satellite about two of its axes. Rate and direction are determined by finding the center of the earth relative to axes of the focal plane array based on the image of the earth limb from the panoramic field of view, and comparing the earth center location at a series of sequential times. The rate and position information are used for stabilizing an initially tumbling satellite after tip-off. Once the satellite is stabilized, its orientation is detected by finding the earth center location on the focal plane array based on the earth limb image from the limb-looking optics of the sensor. In one embodiment of the invention, both fields of view are imaged onto concentric inner and outer ring-shaped regions of the same focal plane array.

Method and sensor for capturing rate and position and stabilization of a satellite using at least one focal plane

A cryogenic liquid heat exchanger system has a subatmospheric pressure reservoir, a tube, and an initial fluid ejector. The sub-atmospheric pressure reservoir has a vacuum exhaust. The tube extends through the reservoir. The initial fluid ejector has a suction chamber inlet that is functionally connected to the reservoir vacuum exhaust. The system may have a plurality of fluid ejectors connected to one or more exhausts either in series or parallel. The initial fluid ejector may receive one or more pressurized fluid streams, and the streams may be steam. A process for generating sub-atmospheric pressures in a cryogenic fluid heat exchanger reservoir includes the step of discharging an initial fluid stream into an initial fluid ejector having a suction chamber functionally connected to an exhaust of the reservoir. A process for generating sub-atmospheric pressures in a cryogenic fluid heat exchanger reservoir includes the step of using a fluid ejector to reduce the pressure in the reservoir. In either process, cooling cryogenic fluid is directed through the reservoir. The cooling cryogenic fluid may be liquid nitrogen or liquid hydrogen. In either process, an incoming cryogenic fluid stream is directed through a tube that extends through the reservoir. The incoming cryogenic fluid may be liquid oxygen or liquid hydrogen, or any other suitable cryogenic fluid.

Cryogenic liquid heat exchanger system with fluid ejector

A system and method for cooling a first cryogenic liquid in a vessel comprises the steps of directing a second cryogenic into the first cryogenic fluid and releasing gas from the vessel. The first cryogenic fluid has a boiling point that is higher than the boiling point of the second cryogenic fluid. Directing the second cryogenic fluid into the first cryogenic fluid results in the second fluid cooling the first fluid and the second fluid vaporizing. The vaporized fluid is released as a gas from the vessel. The vessel may be a propellant tank for a space vehicle. The first and second cryogenic fluids are delivered from supplies located outside of the vehicle. The first cryogenic liquid may be oxygen and the second cryogenic liquid may be nitrogen, neon, or helium. In another aspect of the invention, the first cryogenic liquid may be hydrogen and the second cryogenic liquid may be helium.

Cryogenic densification through introduction of a second cryogenic fluid

Slush is made from a liquid using slush making systems or according to slush making processes. A jacketed vessel of the processes and the systems has an interior wall that defines an interior space. The interior space comprises a top and a bottom. The interior space has an average overall cross-sectional area taken through a vertical axis extending generally between the top and the bottom. The interior space also has a collection portion having an average collection portion cross-sectional area taken through the vertical axis that is less than the average overall cross-sectional area. The liquid is placed into the interior space and the interior walls are cooled. Slush forms on the interior walls and migrates to the collection portion. The collection portion is located at the interior space bottom when the slush density is higher than the liquid density and the collection portion is located at the interior space top when slush density is less than the liquid density. To facilitate the migration of the slush to the collection portion, at least a conical portion of the interior space has the general shape of a cone and the collection portion is located in the proximity of an apex of the conical portion, thereby helping to funnel the slush to the collection portion. The cryogenic liquid to be made into slush may be oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, or water. The slush may be used to densify cryogenic liquids, such as cryogenic liquid propellants.

Slush producing process and device

A cryogenic propellant tank system and process for densifying cryogenic liquid propellant comprises a tank with a combined manifold, a combined manifold line, a pressurizing gas line, and a vent line. The combined manifold is located in the tank. The combined manifold line functionally connects the combined manifold to a chilling system. The pressurizing gas line and the vent line are also functionally connected to the combined manifold line. The tank may be disposed in a vehicle. The manifold is disposed proximate the top of the tank. The chilling system may be a heat exchanger/filling system. The process for filling the tank comprises the steps of charging the tank with cryogenic liquid propellant, venting gases in the tank, densifying the cryogenic liquid propellant, and pressurizing the tank. The tank is charged with the cryogenic liquid propellant such that the orifices in the combined manifold are submerged. The gases in the tank are vented through the combined manifold and out of the tank. The venting step is arrested prior to the submerging of the combined manifold orifices. The liquid in the tank is densified by directing a recirculation stream of the cryogenic liquid propellant from the tank through the combined manifold, out of the tank, cooling and directing the recirculation stream back into the tank. The tank is pressurized by directing a pressurizing gas stream into the combined manifold and into the tank.

Combined diffuser and recirculation manifold in a propellant tank

This invention relates to an apparatus for observing objects and determining their position. A SIRPS (Staring Infrared Panoramic Sensor) for observing objects in a 360.degree. field of view around the SIRPS is coupled with a GPS (global positioning system) to give position data for the objects observed by the SIRPS, an IMU (inertial measurement unit) which provides data on the attitude of the SIRPS and a transmitter to transmit the view of the objects and the position data to a user having a display showing him the objects and positions of the objects. The SIRPS, IMU, GPS and transmitter/receiver are combined in a pod which is placed in a position where it can have a large field of view such as by being flown over the area to be observed such as under a modified Rogollo wing tethered to the ground to hold it in position. A repeater will allow two way communications through the device which is in the air such that radio communications over barriers, such as hills, is enabled. A user receives the SIRPS images and displays them for viewing such that the user can then see objects and know their positions.

Electronic observation post with communications relay

A Fourier transform interferometer for rapid scanning of scenes such as explosions wherein an incoming beam of light to be analyzed is split by a beam splitter into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the incoming light is sent down one arm of the interferometer where it passes through a rotating scanning cube for changing the path length in that arm of the interferometer. The light is then reflected by a retro mirror and sent back through the scanning cube to the beam splitter for sending a portion of the returning beam to a detector. The second portion of the incoming light is sent down a second arm of the interferometer where it passes through a compensator. The light is then reflected by a retro mirror and sent back through the compensator to the beam splitter for sending a portion of the returning beam to a detector. The first and second portions of the incoming light having differing path lengths interfere and the detector measures the fringes created.

Ultra fast fourier transform spectrometer with rotating scanning cube

An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene comprises a plurality of optical elements. A flat reflective element redirects light from a panoramic scene. A plurality of refractive elements, successively receive the redirected light from the reflective element and create a real pupil. An optical relay system receives light from a last of the plurality of refractive elements. The optical relay system establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects optical aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane assembly. The optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles perpendicular to the optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

Panoramic optics assembly having an initial flat reflective element

An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene. The optics assembly includes a plurality of optical elements. A first element redirects light from the panoramic scene. The optical power of the first element forms an imaginary pupil. The energy from the first element is redirected about 90 degrees, forming an annular path. A second element receives the redirected light and re-images the imaginary pupil to form a real pupil. This portion of the energy continues to be in an annular form. A third element includes an optical relay system having a group of reimaging optics. The third element receives light from the second element while relaying the real pupil into the reimaging optics. It also establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects pupil aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane. The optical relay system interfaces with the second element through the use of the real pupil. The real pupil is formed at the cold stop and filter location in the third element. This pupil is relayed back through the system to be coincident with the first real pupil. The optics assembly produces a small F-number at field angles near perpendicular to the output optical axis of the optics assembly over a panoramic scene.

Optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene

An electro-optical sensor system for use in observing objects. A staring sensor is provided which includes a staring array of mid-wave infrared (IR) detectors for providing real-time observations of objects. A preprocessor system is connected to the staring sensor for providing temporal filtration of the real-time observations. A remote control is provided for controlling the temporal filtration.

Electro-optical sensor system for use in observing objects

A staring sensor apparatus which includes an optics assembly for providing a panoramic field of view in which the field of view in one direction is considerably larger than the field of view in the direction perpendicular thereto. A two-dimensional focal plane assembly (FPA) collects and converts an incoming optical signal from the optics assembly to an electrical wave form which depicts the energy falling on each pixel of the FPA in a discrete unit of time. The resulting pixel outputs thus represent the energy emitted from specific calibratable around the optics assembly.

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Claremont, CA, United States of America

John E Davis