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. 01, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 07, 2000
Victor Manuel Aguero, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Richard Cosmo Adamo, Palo Alto, CA (US);
SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for altering an orbit of a space object are described. An electrodynamic tether is deployed from an orbiting space object such that the electrodynamic tether is capable of producing electrical charge. A micro-fabricated charge-emitting device is placed at one end of the electrodynamic tether and has at least two terminals. One of the terminals is electrically connected to the tether to receive the electrical charge produced by the tether. A voltage source applies a voltage across the two terminals of the charge-emitting device to induce the charge-emitting device to emit the charge received from the tether. Depending in part upon the end at which the charge emission device is placed and upon the polarity of the charge emitted, emission of the charge raises or lowers the orbit of the space object.