Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Attitude control
Patent
1997-12-18
2000-03-14
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Attitude control
244173, B64G 126
Patent
active
060361433
ABSTRACT:
A spacecraft includes a thruster coupled to an outward-facing portion of each solar array such that the thruster plume faces outward from the spacecraft. With the thruster located outboard of any erosion-sensitive surfaces on the spacecraft, the thruster exhaust is directed away from the spacecraft. Since canting of the thrusters is no longer required, the mounting of the thruster in the outward-facing portion of each solar array increases the effective Isp of the thruster. A thruster drive assembly is coupled to each solar array, adjacent to the thruster, for positioning the thruster such that any thruster exhaust is directed away from the spacecraft. A central supply tank is conveniently coupled to a central body portion of the spacecraft for providing a common propellant supply to each of the thrusters.
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Space Power, Inc., and Keldysh Research Center, a Joint Venture, a brochure entitled "Hall Effect Plasma Thrusters," San Jose, CA, Aug. 1997.
Barefoot Galen L.
TRW Inc.
Yatsko Michael S.
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