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:
Jul. 19, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2008
James Wehner, Torrance, CA (US);
Lael Rudd, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Christian Harris, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Shahram Foroozan, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
James Wehner, Torrance, CA (US);
Lael Rudd, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Christian Harris, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Shahram Foroozan, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corp., Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
One embodiment of the invention includes a spacecraft. The spacecraft comprises at least one solar array panel comprising an array of solar cell sections. Each of the solar cell sections can be configured to generate electrical power from received solar radiation. The spacecraft also comprises a solar array selection controller configured to selectively deactivate a portion of the array of solar cell sections to generate a torque on the spacecraft based on a difference in at least one of solar and thermal radiation pressure between an activated portion of the array of solar cell sections and the deactivated portion of the array of solar cell sections.