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:
Nov. 19, 2019
Filed:
Apr. 14, 2017
Space Systems/loral, Llc, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Varouj G. Baghdasarian, Cupertino, CA (US);
Andrew E. Turner, Mountain View, CA (US);
Albert L. Weitzel, Milpitas, CA (US);
Space Systems/Loral, LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A system includes at least two spacecraft disposed together for launch by a launch vehicle. In a launch configuration, a second spacecraft is mechanically coupled with the first spacecraft by way of an inter-spacecraft coupling arrangement (ISCA). The system is configured to be deployed following injection into a first orbit by the launch vehicle, while the second spacecraft is mechanically coupled with the first spacecraft. The first spacecraft includes a thruster configured to execute an orbit transfer maneuver from the first orbit to a second orbit, the thruster delivering thrust along a thrust vector. In an on-orbit configuration, the ISCA is switchable between a first mode that permits rotation of the first spacecraft with respect to the second spacecraft about a first axis of rotation that is approximately parallel with the thrust vector and a second mode that prevents rotation of the first spacecraft with respect to the second spacecraft.