Orbital system including a tethered satellite

Details Orbital system including a tethered satellite Orbital system including a tethered satellite

1987-01-12

1989-04-25

Barefoot, Galen

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path

244172, 244164, B64G 110

Patent

active

048240516

ABSTRACT:
An orbital system comprising a main platform and a satellite tethered by a long cable which may be used to perform measurements in the upper layers of the atmosphere. Air drag on the satellite causes the orbit parameters to decay, and means of regenerating the orbit parameters by electro-dynamic propulsion are provided. The cable is electrically conductive and, in a propulsion configuration, a current is passed through the cable to provide electro-geomagnetic thrust. Winches enable the cable to be wound in and out, either constantly, or in synchronization with angular oscillation of the system to damp the oscillations.
On an east-bound orbit, the satellite may be transferred from a measurement configuration, where it is below the platform, to a propulsion configuration, where it is above the platform. This is achieved by winding the cable in synchronism to excite the oscillations until it swings above the platform and then to damp the oscillations so that it remains above the platform. The opposite transfer is obtained symmetrically.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3241142 (1966-03-01), Raabe
patent: 3532298 (1970-10-01), Swet
patent: 3582016 (1971-06-01), Sherman
patent: 4083520 (1978-04-01), Rupp et al.
patent: 4097010 (1978-06-01), Colombo et al.
patent: 4580747 (1986-04-01), Pearson
Astronautics & Aeronautics, Apr. 1983, pp. 33-40; I. Bekey: "Tethers Open New Space Options".
Journal of Spacecraft, vol. 20, No. 3, May-Jun. 1983, pp. 238-244; S. D. Shawhan and al.: "Subsatellite Studies of Wave, Plasma, and . . .".
Aviation Week & Space Technology, Dec. 20, 1982, pp. 60-63; A. Randolph: "Martin Awaits Go-Ahead for Tethered".
AIAA/SAE/ASME, 20th Joint Propulsion Conference, Jun. 11-13, 1984; Carrol et al.: "Potential Role of Tethers in Space Transportation".

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