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:
Apr. 13, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2002
Patrick A. Stadter, Mt. Airy, MD (US);
William S. Devereux, Mt. Airy, MD (US);
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (US);
Abstract
An integrated navigation and communication system that enables distributed spacecraft system operations. The system is a modular, extensible system that supports science operations among multiple, distributed spacecraft by implementing the essential functions of navigation, communication and control. Distributed spacecraft systems, also called formation flying systems, extend the capabilities of single-spacecraft missions by providing a platform for complex sensing tasks, including multipoint observation, co-observation, and distributed apertures. To accomplish these tasks, the system enables spacecrafts within a distributed spacecraft system to communicate science and coordination information, to determine relative position, velocity and time for command and control operations, and to operate in a coordinated manner to achieve common mission goals.