Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Reexamination Certificate
2005-09-13
2005-09-13
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
C244S172200, C244S166000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06942186
ABSTRACT:
The present invention improves the orbital maneuvering and power generation capabilities of a system of a satellite(s) connected with a conducting tether(s) by spinning the system about its mass center at an angular rate which is relatively high compared to the average orbital rate. An improvement in tether performance is achieved because at many times during rotation the tether is positioned at much better angles with the magnetic field and significantly higher currents are driven through the tether without destabilizing the system. The current can flow either in the direction of the EMF induced in the tether, or in the reverse direction, depending on the tether orientation with respect to the magnetic field and the mission goals. The reverse current is driven by the onboard power sources. Spinning electrodynamic tether systems can also be lighter and simpler in design and more flexible in operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3582016 (1971-06-01), Sherman
patent: 3695103 (1972-10-01), Olson
patent: 3868072 (1975-02-01), Fogarty
patent: 4097010 (1978-06-01), Colombo et al.
patent: 4580747 (1986-04-01), Pearson
patent: 4727373 (1988-02-01), Hoover
patent: 4824051 (1989-04-01), Engelking
patent: 4923151 (1990-05-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 5082211 (1992-01-01), Werka
patent: 5163641 (1992-11-01), Yasaka
patent: 5183225 (1993-02-01), Forward
patent: 6116544 (2000-09-01), Forward et al.
patent: 6173922 (2001-01-01), Hoyt et al.
patent: 6260807 (2001-07-01), Hoyt et al.
patent: 6286788 (2001-09-01), Hoyt et al.
patent: 6290186 (2001-09-01), Hoyt et al.
patent: 6345789 (2002-02-01), Rasmusson
patent: 6386484 (2002-05-01), Hoyt et al.
patent: 6565044 (2003-05-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 6732978 (2004-05-01), Ockels et al.
Anselmo, J.C., “NRO Orbiting Spacecraft Studies Tether Survivability”,Aviation Week&Space Technology, Jul. 1, 1996, p. 24.
Barry, P., “A Little Physics and a Lot of String”,NASA Science News, Jun. 9, 2000, http://science.msfc.nasa.gov.
Bekey, I., “Tethering a new technique for payload deployment”,Aerospace America, Mar., 1997, pp. 36-40.
Bekey, I., “Tethers Open New Space Options”,Astronautics&Aeronautics, Apr., 1983, pp. 33-40.
Carroll, J.A., “SEDS Deployer Design and Flight Performance”, paper WSEDSA-1 at the 4thInternational Conference on Tethers in Space, Apr., 1995, pp. 593-600, Washington, D.C.
Cheek, D., “Failure-Resistant Multiline Tethers”,NASA TechFinder: Tech Brief, Apr., 2000, p. 50, vol. 24, Issue 4 (found on Internet at http://technology.nasa.gov).
Cheek, D., “Using Electromagnetic Drag on Tethers to De-Orbit Spacecraft”,NASA TechFinder: Tech Brief, Mar., 2000, p. 75, vol. 24, Issue 3 (found on Internet at http://technology.nasa.gov).
Dooling, D., “Plugged in to space”,NASA Science News, Oct. 15, 1998, http://science.msfc.nasa.gov.
Dooling, D., “Setting Sail for the Stars”,NASA Science News, Apr. 8, 1999, http://science.nasa.gov.
Dooling, D., “Spacecraft may fly on ‘empty’ using propulsive tether concept”,NASA Science News, Jan. 22, 1999, http://science
asa/gov.
“Electronic Technologies Sought for Orbital Debris Tether”,Space Business News, Jun. 9, 1999, vol. 17, No. 12, Phillips Business Information, Inc.
Flinn, E.D., “Tethers for tidying up space”,Aerospace America, Jan., 1999, p. 28, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
Forward, R.L., et al., “Failsafe Multiline Hoytether Lifetimes”,31stAIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Jul. 10-12, 1995, AIAA 95-2890, San Diego, California, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Washington, D.C.
Forward, R.L.,Failsafe Multistrand Tethers for Space Propulsion, Final Report on NASA Contract NAS8-39318 SBIR 91-1 Phase I, Jul., 1992, Forward Unlimited, Malibu, California.
Forward, R.L., “Failsafe Multistrand Tether Structures for Space Propulsion”,AIAA/SAE/ASME/ASEE 28thJoint Propulsion Conference and Exhibit, Jul. 6-8, 1992, Nashville, Tennessee, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Washington, D.C.
Gallagher, D.L., et al.,Electrodynamic Tether Propulsion and Power Generation at Jupiter, NASA/TP-1998-208475, Jun., 1998.
Heinen, G.W., et al.,Progress on Development of the Terminator Tether™, Jan. 2, 2002, http://sli.nasa.gov/ast/abstracts.
“High Strength-to-Weight Tapered Hoytether for LEO to GEO Payload Transport”,NASA TechFinder, Jul. 24, 2001, http://technology.larc.nasa.gov.
Johnson, L., et al., “Electrodynamic Tethers for Spacecraft Propulsion”,36thAerospace Sciences Meeting&Exhibit, Jan. 12-15, 1998, Reno, Nevada, Paper AIAA 98-0983, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA.
Johnson, L, “Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System Mission (ProSEDS)”,Proceedings of the OAST 8thAdvanced Propulsion Workshop, JPL, Pasadena, California, May 20-22, 1997.
“A Lightweight System for End-of-Life Deorbit of Low-Earth-Orbit Spacecraft”,SBIR Success Stories, Dec. 28, 2001, Technology Transfer Program, Marshall Space Flight Center (found on Internet at http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov).
Lorenzini, E.C.,In-Space Transportation with Tethers, Sep., 1999, Smithsonian Institution, Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Malone, J., “Tethered Transportation in Space”,Marshall Space Flight Center News Releases, Mar. 26, 1999, (found on Internet at http://www.msfc.nasa.gov).
McCoy, J.E., et al., “Plasma Motor-Generator (PMG) Flight Experiment Results”,Proceedings of the 4thInternational Conference on Tethers in Space, Apr., 1995, pp. 57-82, Washington, D.C.
“NASA advanced concepts to be described in Thursday session”,Aerospace Daily, Mar. 23, 1999, p. 425, vol. 189, No. 55, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Penzo, Dr. P.A., et al., Ed.,Tethers In Space Handbook—Second Edition, May, 1989, NASA Office of Space Flight, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Raitt, W.J., et al., “The NASA/ASI TSS-1 Mission: Summary of Results and Reflight Plans”,Proceedings of the 4thInternational Conference on Tethers in Space, Apr., 1995, pp. 107-118, Washington, D.C.
Root, J., “Removing Space Debris from LEO”,Aerospace Technology Innovation, May/Jun. 2000, vol. 8, No. 3 (found on Internet at http://www.nctn.hq.nasa.gov/innovation/Innovation).
Schmidt, G., “Nuclear and future flight propulsion”,Aerospace America, Dec., 2000, p. 54, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.
Carroll Joseph A.
Levin Eugene M.
Dicke Billig & Czaja, PLLC
Semunegus Lulit
Star Technology and Research, Inc.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for propulsion and power generation... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for propulsion and power generation..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for propulsion and power generation... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3416967