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. 30, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2014
Space Systems/loral, Llc, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Mohammad Saghir Munir, San Ramon, CA (US);
Walter Gelon, Redwood City, CA (US);
Darren Stratemeier, Mountain View, CA (US);
Space Systems/Loral, LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Techniques for performing orbit raising, north-south stationkeeping, east-west stationkeeping, and momentum management with thrusters disposed on a spacecraft are disclosed. The spacecraft includes at least one thruster support mechanism (TSM), including a pointing arrangement and an elongated structural member, the structural member having a long dimension defining a first axis a proximal portion of the structural member is attached to the pointing arrangement each of the thrusters is fixedly coupled with a distal portion of the structural member. The pointing arrangement includes a first, second, and third revolute joint, the first revolute joint being rotatable about the first axis; the third revolute joint being rotatable about a third axis, the third axis being fixed with respect to the spacecraft; and the second revolute joint being rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being orthogonal to each of the first axis and the third axis.