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:
Dec. 11, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 11, 2006
Gordon A. Dressler, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Gordon A. Dressler, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and a method for an ambient atmosphere ion thruster having a pair of permeable electrical members for accelerating ambient atmosphere ions which enter the thruster due to a craft's relative velocity. Neutral ambient atmosphere molecules in the intake mass flux may also be ionized and subsequently accelerated by the pair of permeable electrical members. Acceleration of any entering mass comprises an exhaust mass flux which then produces a net thrust. Such net thrust is then vectored by configuring and orienting the thrusters for imparting axial and lateral accelerations as well as pitch, yaw, and roll controls. The present invention is operational in proximity to any celestial body having a sensible atmosphere during a portion of the free trajectory or during orbiting at altitude. Useful net thrust is thereby produced without need for carrying reaction mass onboard a spacecraft.
Data source: USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) public patent records. Weekly synchronization. How IDiyas builds this profile