L3 Technologies, Inc.

Care Weather Technologies, Inc.

Michael Patrick Walton

Jared E Campbell

Walter Coe

Alex Roman Laraway

Matthew Bare

Cameron Schmidt

Charles Paul Curtis

Bryce Anderson

Jeffrey Allen

The present disclosure provides a thermal management system for a satellite. The system may include a plurality of photovoltaic cells configured to generate electrical power, an active array antenna including transmit-receive (T/R) modules with power amplifiers, a thermal core thermally coupled to the photovoltaic cells and antenna, and a phase-change material (PCM) element disposed within the thermal core and thermally coupled to the T/R modules. The thermal core may be configured to spread heat across the satellite. One or more of the photovoltaic cells may be configured to radiate heat generated by the T/R modules. The system may enable efficient thermal management in a compact satellite design by utilizing the photovoltaic cells as radiative surfaces and incorporating the PCM element to stabilize temperature fluctuations.

Systems and methods for satellite thermal management

One embodiment disclosed herein is related to a device for pointing a radiating element. The device includes an aligned radiating surface; a hinge that is circumferentially mounted to a rear side of the aligned radiating surface, the hinge configured to change azimuth of the aligned radiating surface; and a Tubular Universal joint (TU-joint) having one end coupled to a rear side of the aligned radiating surface and a second end coupled to a base, the TU-joint being configured to change an elevation of the aligned radiating surface. Another embodiment is related to a Tubular Universal-joint (TU-joint). In the embodiment, the TU-joint includes a hollow tube having a first end and a second end; a plurality of slits along the surface of the tube; and a plurality of members between the plurality of slits, each of the plurality of members configured to bear a portion of a load of the TU-joint, wherein the TU-joint is configured to be axially and torsionally stiff while being bendable.

Flexed perimeter roller antenna positioner

Growing community of inventors

Provo, UT, United States of America

Michael Patrick Walton