The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 2018
Filed:
Feb. 04, 2016
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Alexander Jacob Sobel, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Qinghong W. Wang, Torrance, CA (US);
Gary Lemke, Torrance, CA (US);
Timothy Lui, San Pedro, CA (US);
Kangsik Lee, Torrance, CA (US);
Glenn N. Caplin, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Troy Allen Fontana, Torrance, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for controlling a spacecraft for a transfer orbit. The spacecraft includes a propulsion subsystem with electric thrusters that are installed with two-axis gimbal assemblies. The spacecraft also includes a controller that identifies a target spin axis for the spacecraft, determines an actual spin axis for the spacecraft during the transfer orbit, determines gimbal angles for the electric thruster(s) that adjust the actual spin axis toward the target spin axis, and initiates a burn of the electric thruster(s) at the gimbal angles.