초록 ▼

A system for providing energy storage, attitude steering, and momentum management of a spacecraft is shown using a pair of gimbaled flywheels. Two flywheels are positioned with spin axes nominally co-aligned along the spacecraft pitch axis and are spun in opposite or the same direction at differenti

A system for providing energy storage, attitude steering, and momentum management of a spacecraft is shown using a pair of gimbaled flywheels. Two flywheels are positioned with spin axes nominally co-aligned along the spacecraft pitch axis and are spun in opposite or the same direction at differential or equal speeds to store spacecraft momentum as desired. Angular momentum can be tilted from the normal alignment with respect to the spacecraft body. This system will reduce the weight of conventional spacecraft and also reduce the cost.

대표청구항 ▼

An energy storage and retrieval system for a spacecraft having a body and a pitch axis, the system comprising: a first flywheel disposed within the body and reversibly rotatable about a first spin axis substantially co-aligned with the pitch axis, wherein rotation of said first flywheel produces a f

An energy storage and retrieval system for a spacecraft having a body and a pitch axis, the system comprising: a first flywheel disposed within the body and reversibly rotatable about a first spin axis substantially co-aligned with the pitch axis, wherein rotation of said first flywheel produces a first momentum directed along the first spin axis; a second flywheel disposed within the body and reversibly rotatable about a second spin axis substantially co-aligned with the pitch axis, wherein rotation of said second flywheel produces a second momentum directed along the second spin axis so as to produce a non-zero net momentum; and a processor in communication with the first and second flywheels for controlling alignment of the first and second spin axes, direction of rotation of said first and second flywheels, and a rotational speed of said first and second flywheels so as to increase the rotational speed of at least one of said first and second flywheels to store energy, said processor also operative to decrease the rotational speed of at least one of said first and second flywheels to retrieve energy.