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. 23, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1999
Jeoffrey R. McAllister, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Richard A. Fowell, Culver City, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for controlling the eccentricity of an orbit. One embodiment of the present invention is described by a method comprising the step of performing a program of eccentricity control maneuvers wherein the control maneuvers are executed at times and in directions selected to apply substantially all eccentricity control along a line of antinodes. In one embodiment, the control maneuvers arc tangential maneuvers, and each control maneuver is applied near the line of antinodes. Provision is made for performing additional maneuvers, including node retargcting maneuvers during specified intervals. Another embodiment of the invention is described by a satellite in a substantially geosynchronous orbit having a satellite control system with a processor implementing instructions to perform control maneuvers as described above. Yet another embodiment of the present invention is described by a command facility comprising a processor for implementing instructions to perform the program control maneuvers described above, and a communicatively coupled transmitter for transmitting the commands to the satellite.