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:
Sep. 23, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 06, 1994
Alfred H Tadros, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Space Systems/Loral, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A method for operating an orbiting spacecraft includes the steps of (a) changing a mass distribution of the spacecraft from a first mass distribution for setting a first principal moment of inertia of the spacecraft along a first axis approximately equal to a second principal moment of inertia of the spacecraft along a second axis, thereby minimizing a gravity gradient torque about a third axis; (b) performing a desired activity while the gravity gradient torque about the third axis is minimized; and (c) resetting the mass distribution back to the first mass distribution at a completion of the desired activity. The spacecraft includes a plurality of solar array panels, and the step of changing is accomplished by varying a position of at least two of the solar array panels away from a sun-pointing configuration. Also disclosed is a method for stabilizing the spacecraft to resist a rotation about an axis by varying the positions of solar array panels.