IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0541081
(2009-08-13)
|
등록번호 |
US-8210480
(2012-07-03)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Moorer, Daniel F.
- Schaub, Hanspeter
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
▼
Space tug vehicles and methods for providing space tugs and moving target vehicles are provided. More particularly, a space tug utilizing electrostatic or Coulomb force for acting on target vehicles and for moving the target vehicles into new orbits or altitudes are provided. The space tug may estab
Space tug vehicles and methods for providing space tugs and moving target vehicles are provided. More particularly, a space tug utilizing electrostatic or Coulomb force for acting on target vehicles and for moving the target vehicles into new orbits or altitudes are provided. The space tug may establish an attractive electrostatic force by controlling the electrical potential of the space tug so that it is opposite the electrical potential of a target vehicle. The target vehicle may acquire an absolute electrical potential due to its interaction with the space plasma and photoelectrons or the space tug may impart additional charge to the target vehicle. After establishing the attractive electrostatic force, a propulsion system of the space tug is operated to provide thrust. Thrust is directed to change the orbit and/or position of the target vehicle that is being pulled towards the space tug by the electrostatic force.
대표청구항
▼
1. A space tug, comprising: an active charge control system, wherein a desired surface potential of the space tug is maintained by the charge control system for at least a first time interval while the space tug is in space, wherein the desired surface potential is opposite a surface potential of a
1. A space tug, comprising: an active charge control system, wherein a desired surface potential of the space tug is maintained by the charge control system for at least a first time interval while the space tug is in space, wherein the desired surface potential is opposite a surface potential of a target vehicle being towed by the space tug during the first time interval, and wherein the active charge control system establishes an electrostatic attractive force between the space tug and the target vehicle;a propulsion system, wherein a propulsive thrust is provided while the electrostatic attractive force is established to change a location of a space tug and target vehicle formation center of mass. 2. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the active charge control system includes an ion source. 3. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the active charge control system includes an electron source. 4. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the active charge control system and the propulsion system include a shared ion source. 5. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the active charge control system and the propulsion system include a shared electron source. 6. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the active charge control system and the propulsion system include a shared ion source and a shared electron source. 7. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the active charge control system includes an ion emitter. 8. The space tug of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system includes an ion engine. 9. The space tug of claim 1, further comprising: a space tug charge sensor, wherein the space tug charge sensor is operable to determine a potential of the space tug. 10. A method for changing an altitude of a target spacecraft, comprising: placing a space tug into proximity with a target spacecraft;controlling an electrical potential of the space tug, wherein the electrical potential of the space tug is set to an opposite charge from that of the target spacecraft to establish an attractive force between the space tug and the target spacecraft, wherein the attractive force is an electrostatic attractive force;after establishing the attractive force between the space tug and the target spacecraft, applying a propulsive force, wherein the propulsive force is applied while the attractive force is established to change an altitude of the target spacecraft. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: sensing an electrical potential of the space tug. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: estimating an electrical potential of the target spacecraft by determining a relative motion response from a separation distance between the space tug and the target spacecraft. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: changing an absolute electrical potential of the target spacecraft by controlling the charge of the target spacecraft. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling an electrical potential of the space tug includes at least one of: emitting positive ions from the space tug;emitting negative electrons from the space tug. 15. The method of claim 10, wherein applying a propulsive force includes operating an ion engine. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling an electrical potential of the space tug includes emitting positive ions from an ion emitter provided as part of the space tug, and wherein applying a propulsive force includes emitting positive ions from the ion emitter. 17. The method of claim 10, wherein the altitude of the space tug and the target spacecraft is changed to a higher altitude over a plurality of orbital periods about the Earth. 18. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the electrical potential of the space tug includes: sensing a potential of the space tug;activating a charge emitter to alter the electrical potential of the space tug. 19. A space tug system, comprising: a space tug, the space tug including: an active charge control system;a propulsion system; anda target spacecraft, wherein the target spacecraft has an electrical potential, wherein the active charge control system of the space tug is operable to at least one of: establish or maintain an electrical charge on the space tug that is opposite the electrical potential of the target spacecraft, and establish an attractive force between the space tug and the target vehicle,wherein the propulsion system of the space tug is operable while the active charge control system is established to move a space tug and target spacecraft formation center of mass. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the propulsion system includes an ion engine.
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