Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1996-12-20
1999-10-05
Jordan, Charles T.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
B64G 100
Patent
active
059610760
ABSTRACT:
A process for designing and producing spacecraft more efficiently, without the excessive time, complexity and expense usually associated with spacecraft design. The process moves the design complexity usually associated with spacecraft design to payload modules whose designs are potentially reusable in other spacecraft missions. Each module is designed to be largely independent of a parent spacecraft structure, the design of which can be simplified to accommodate multiple modules that connect to the parent structure through a standardized backbone interface. Each module is designed for independent structural integrity, and to provide its own thermal management. Modules may also provide their own power regulation and, optionally, their own power storage and generation capabilities. Modules may also provide their own attitude control systems. Attachment of modules to the parent structure is simplified because of the modules' independence. The backbone interface may, for example, simply provide a data bus connection, an unregulated power connection, and possibly a radio-frequency (RF) connection. This simplicity of attachment of the modules results in an extremely simple system-level design and a correspondingly simple integration and test procedure, thereby simplifying the entire design and development process.
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Tomonao Hayashi, "Development of Small Satellite Weighing Less Than 17 kg," NEC Research and Development, No. 93, Apr. 1989, Tokyo, Japan, pp. 73-78.
Coronel Ramon
Eller Howard S.
Jordan Charles T.
TRW Inc.
Wesson Theresa M.
Yatsko Michael S.
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