Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – With payload accommodation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-19
2001-05-08
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
With payload accommodation
C244S158700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227497
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Satellites often use arrays of solar cells in order to supplement their power system. For best results, these solar cells should be pointed toward the sun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present system recognizes that in a variable height orbit, such as an elliptical orbit, the satellite will encounter differing, and sometimes degrading, space environments. The degrading effects of atmospheric drag and impacts by debris particles can greatly effect the lower, near-earth, region of the orbit. Therefore, a disclosed mode orients the solar cells to face toward the sun only during certain portions of the orbit, and in a way that simultaneously alleviates many of the debilitating effects from these factors.
In a disclosed mode, an elliptical orbit is used. At the apogee of this elliptical orbit, the satellites are oriented with their solar cells facing toward the sun. However, when the satellite reaches the perigee portion of its orbit, it eventually reaches a point where it enters either the so-called debris field of the Earth, or the atmosphere of the Earth. In all of these cases, orienting the solar cells to face toward the sun can cause a problem. In the debris field, this orientation can orient the solar cells to point its maximum possible surface area toward the debris field. This increases the chances of being hit by a piece of debris.
In the atmosphere, orientation of the solar cell in this way can increase the atmospheric drag, and possibly provide the need for supplemental thrusters to maintain the movement and inertia of the satellite.
Having made these recognitions, the present system determines when the satellite enters at least one of the debris fields and/or the atmospheric field of the Earth. At that point, the satellite changes its orientation to provide minimum surface area in the direction of the rotation of the satellite.
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Dinh Tran
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Mobile Communications Holdings, Inc.
Poon Peter M.
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