Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1997-04-04
2000-09-12
Poon, Peter M.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
244164, 244172, B64G 126
Patent
active
061165433
ABSTRACT:
The method serves to place a space vehicle, such as a satellite, on a target orbit such as the orbit adapted to normal operation of the space vehicle and starting from an elliptical initial orbit that is significantly different from, and in particular more eccentric than the target orbit. The space vehicle is caused to describe a spiral trajectory made up of a plurality of intermediate orbits while a set of high specific impulse thrusters mounted on the space vehicle are fired continuously and without interruption, thereby causing the spiral trajectory to vary so that on each successive revolution, at least during a first stage of the maneuver, perigee altitude increases, apogee altitude varies in a desired direction, and any difference in inclination between the intermediate orbit and the target orbit is decreased, after which, at least during a second stage of the maneuver, changes in perigee altitude and in apogee altitude are controlled individually in predetermined constant directions, while any difference in inclination between the intermediate orbit and the target orbit continues to be reduced until the apogee altitude, the perigee altitude, and the orbital inclination of an intermediate orbit of the space vehicle have substantially the values of the target orbit.
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Dinh Tien
Poon Peter M.
Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviati
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