Lockheed Martin Corporation

Spencer Keith Connor

Bronson Murray

Jeffrey John Bank

Douglas Vernon McKinnon

Jay H Ambrose

Joseph Charles Munder

Ronald Elwood Deppen

Tiffany Phayvanh Chanthavong

Timothy ONeill

Lynn Carol Cain

A panel assembly for use with a spacecraft includes a payload, a radiator panel and a heat pipe. The payload is configured to generate waste heat during operation. The radiator panel is spaced apart from the payload and is configured to dissipate waste heat. The heat pipe is coupled to the payload and the radiator panel. The heat pipe includes a compliant portion to permit the radiator panel to move relative to the payload. Further the heat pipe is configured to transfer waste heat from the payload to the radiator panel.

Heat transfer assemblies with compliant heat pipes

A deployment system for a spacecraft may include a fitting for coupling a deployable device to the spacecraft, and a moment bearing shear ball assembly. The moment bearing shear ball assembly may include a shear ball engaged within the fitting, and a moment collar mounted onto the shear ball. The moment collar may have a planar surface engaged with a planar surface of the fitting. A separation interface may be defined between at least one of (1) mating surfaces of the fitting and the shear ball and (2) mating surfaces of the fitting and the moment collar. Engagement of the shear ball within the fitting constrains shear forces in at least two axes and axial forces in at least a third axis. Engagement of the moment collar with the shear ball and the fitting constrains overturning moments of the shear ball about at least two axes, and axial forces in at least a third axis.

Spacecraft deployment systems and methods using moment bearing shear ball

An electrical interface can include one or more connector devices that facilitate communication between components while they are connected. The connector devices can provide a secure communication and/or power link that resists infiltration by foreign object debris ('FOD') as well as redundant electrical pathways. The connector devices can further provide mechanisms that are lightweight, are operable in a broad range of temperatures (e.g., low temperatures), accommodate displacement without loss of electrical continuity, and are of low resistance and induction. The connector devices can further provide a kickoff force upon separation of the components.

Randomized spring array for electrical separation interface

A hosted multi-reflector antenna system includes a primary reflector, a subreflector, an aperture, a feed structure and an anti-jam housing. The feed structure includes an electronically steered antenna (ESA). The subreflector directs a reflected beam between a primary reflector and an ESA, and the anti-jam housing encloses the subreflector and the ESA. The antenna system is thermo-elastically decoupled and thermally self-sufficient, accommodates thermal dissipation of the feed structure, and can maintain a precise antenna alignment.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, CO, United States of America

Spencer Keith Connor