Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1993-06-11
1996-06-18
Grant, William
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
244173, B64G 110, B64G 144
Patent
active
055270018
ABSTRACT:
A Modular Communication Satellite (10) for a Satellite Communication System is disclosed. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a foldable, high-gain, electronically steered antenna array (12) that is always pointed toward the Earth (E). The unfolded spacecraft resemble an oblate flower. Polygonal antenna panels (92, 94, 96, 102, 104, & 106) are attached to each other and to a primary bus structure (22) by antenna deployment hinges (90). The upper portion of the satellite (10) incorporates intersatellite antenna arrays (26) of individual intersatellite antennas (28), which are always pointed tangentially to the Earth (E). An Astromast.TM. boom (32) is mounted between the space facing surface of the primary bus structure (22) and an assembly of solar array storage booms (36). The Astromast.TM. boom (32) can expand and rotate amorphous silicon solar arrays (38) which are unfurled from within the solar array storage booms (36). The amorphous silicon solar arrays (38) gather solar radiation to provide power the satellite (10), and furnish thermal control for the satellite (10) by shielding it from solar radiation. The satellite is capable of being nested or stacked in a compact arrangement that fits within a payload bay of a launch vehicle (LV).
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"Thermionic Energy Conversion & Metallic-Fluid . . . ," by James F. Morris, pp. 271-282.
"Thermal Control," by Agrawal, published in Design of Geosynchronous Spacecraft, 1986, pp. 266-321.
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"Deployment of an Inflatable Solar Array," advertisement from L'Garde, Inc.
"Ballooning Through Space," by Eugene Rossel et al., published in Technology, pp. 33-35.
Excerpt re Amorphous Silcon on p. 766 in "Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety . . . ," edited by Jackson et al., published in Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers, vol. 2, Aug. 6-11, 1989, pp. 765-767.
"Entering the space Arena with Amorphous Silicon Solar Arrays," by Eugene Rossel, p. 5.
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Grant William
Teledesic Corporation
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