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:
May. 27, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 05, 2000
Applicant:
Inventor:
David M. Barnett, Littleton, CO (US);
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G 1/44 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G 1/44 ;
Abstract
The invention is a satellite assembly suitable for use with small payloads. In detail, the invention includes a foldable flexible sheet. A housing for containing the payload of the satellite is mounted at the center of the sheet. A plurality of inflatable tubular members is coupled at a first end to the housing and along it's length to the sheet having a second end terminating at the periphery of the sheet, the tubular elements movable from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition. A plurality of flat solar panels is attached to the sheet in a manner allowing the sheet to be folded.