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:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 05, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
Richard A Fowell, Culver City, CA (US);
John F Yocum, Jr, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Assignee:
Hughes Electronics Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
244164 ; 244165 ; 244168 ; 244170 ;
Abstract
Methods for performing attitude maneuvers of a spinning satellite without the use of thrusters, or with a minimal number of thrusters, are disclosed. The attitude maneuvers are primarily achieved through the use of gimballed momentum wheels and solar wing drives. Various maneuvers can be performed depending on whether the satellite has near-zero net momentum or significant net momentum. The maneuvers include sun acquisition, sun hold, Earth acquisition and inversion.