Method and apparatus for determination of spacecraft drag

Details Method and apparatus for determination of spacecraft drag Method and apparatus for determination of spacecraft drag

1998-10-08

2000-01-04

Teska, Kevin J.

G06F 9455

Patent

active

060119136

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for modeling the exposure of spacecraft-mounted solar power panels to the sun over a given time interval, such as an orbit period, and a method and apparatus for modeling the drag of spacecraft over a given time interval, such as an orbit period. The result of the exposure modeling can be used to determine varying availability of electrical power for operations to be performed by the spacecraft and on-board apparatus. The results of the drag over time are used to predict orbit decay and fuel requirements for orbit maintenance and station-keeping. The invention uses a graphically based satellite systems analysis program to approximate exposure and drag data through visual projection of the relevant spacecraft elements on a computer display screen.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4688092 (1987-08-01), Kamel et al.
patent: 5522569 (1996-06-01), Steffy et al.
patent: 5546309 (1996-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5687084 (1997-11-01), Wertz
patent: 5806804 (1998-09-01), Goodzeit et al.

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