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. 24, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 08, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
Ahmed A Kamel, Los Altos, CA (US);
Walter Gelon, Redwood City, CA (US);
Keith Reckdahl, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Assignee:
Space Systems/Loral, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
244172 ; 244169 ;
Abstract
A practical stationkeeping method and apparatus wherein an electric propulsion system on a satellite is used to correct north-south drift and the majority of east-west drift which is caused by orbital eccentricity growth. A chemical propulsion system on the satellite is used to correct the remainder of east-west drift due to the growth of orbital semimajor axis. The method and apparatus eliminate the need for additional electric thruster burns in case of an electric thruster failure and therefore eliminates associated power and mass penalties.