Stabilization of unstable space debris
IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0952886
(2010-11-23)
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등록번호 |
US-8226046
(2012-07-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, is a method of altering the stability of unstable space debris. In some embodiments, the method further comprises changing the orbit of the unstable space debris.
대표청구항
▼
1. A method of stabilizing unstable space debris, comprising: applying force to at least a first and a second target point on the unstable space debris, said first and second target points located on or near mutually orthogonal axes centered at the center of mass of the unstable space debris, thereb
1. A method of stabilizing unstable space debris, comprising: applying force to at least a first and a second target point on the unstable space debris, said first and second target points located on or near mutually orthogonal axes centered at the center of mass of the unstable space debris, thereby generating stabilized space debris; wherein the force is generated by pneumatic impingement of the unstable space debris with a gas plume applied by an adjacent satellite; andwherein the force is sufficient to generate a torque on the unstable space debris that dampens rotational momentum about one or more of the axes of rotation of the unstable space debris. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of force being applied to the unstable space debris is a function of the motion of the unstable space debris, the state vector for the center of mass of the unstable space debris, the mutually orthogonal axes of rotation of the unstable space debris, the Moments of Inertia of the unstable space debris, the rotational momentum of the unstable space debris, the target points of the unstable space debris, or any combination thereof. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of force being applied does not damage the target points. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the target points are located on, or near to, each of the three mutually orthogonal axes of rotation centered at the center of mass of the unstable space debris. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein each target point is (a) located on, or near to, each of the three mutually orthogonal axes of rotation centered at the center of mass of the unstable space debris, and (b) structurally rigid enough to absorb the force without being compromised. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the target point(s) on the unstable space debris are a function of the center of mass of the unstable space debris, the direction and magnitude of the velocity vector of the center of mass of the unstable space debris, the moments of inertia and the rotational momentum about the mutually orthogonal axes of rotation of the body of the unstable space debris, or any combination thereof. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of pulses of the gas plume required to stabilize one of the three mutually orthogonal axes of rotation centered at the center of mass of the unstable space debris is independent of the number of pulses of gas required to stabilize the other two axes of rotation of the unstable space debris. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas plume comprises a gas selected from: nitrogen gas; xenon gas; argon gas; neon gas; high velocity residual affluent from chemical combustion of an oxidizer and a propellant; high velocity residual affluent from the exothermal chemical decomposition of a monopropellant on a catalyst; hydrogen gas; helium gas; or a combination thereof. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas plume issues from a nozzle selected from a divergent nozzle, a convergent nozzle, and a collimated nozzle. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas plume issues from a nozzle adjacent to at least one target point. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas plume issues from a nozzle adjacent to one of the axes of rotation of the unstable space debris. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gas plume issues from a nozzle found on a mechanically deployable arm. 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing the stabilized space debris. 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the orbital parameters of the stabilized space debris.
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (9)
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Goodzeit Neil Evan (Princeton NJ) Ratan Santosh (Lawrenceville NJ), Attitude control for spacecraft with movable appendages such as solar panels.
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Fox Stephen M. (Belle Mead NJ), Attitude control system for spacecraft utilizing the thruster plume.
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Werka Robert O. (Huntsville AL), Method and apparatus for mitigating space debris.
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Cepollina,Frank J.; Burns,Richard D.; Holz,Jill M.; Corbo,James E.; Jedhrich,Nicholas M., Method and associated apparatus for capturing, servicing and de-orbiting earth satellites using robotics.
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Cepollina, Frank J.; Burns, Richard D.; Holz, Jill M.; Corbo, James E.; Jedhrich, Nicholas M., Method and associated apparatus for capturing, servicing, and de-orbiting earth satellites using robotics.
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Cepollina, Frank J.; Burns, Richard D.; Holz, Jill M.; Corbo, James E.; Jedhrich, Nicholas M., Method and associated apparatus for capturing, servicing, and de-orbiting earth satellites using robotics.
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Cepollina,Frank J.; Burns,Richard D.; Holz,Jill M.; Corbo,James E.; Jedhrich,Nicholas M., Method and associated apparatus for capturing, servicing, and de-orbiting earth satellites using robotics.
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Schall Wolfgang (Waldenbuch DEX), Method and device for removing space debris.
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Robinson, Ernie Y., Spacecraft for removal of space orbital debris.
이 특허를 인용한 특허 (5)
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Renault, Hervé; Arbusti, Francis; Sainct, Hervé, Method for capturing a container of planet-ground samples traveling in open space.
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Lehocki, Stephen C., Multi-purpose cargo delivery and space debris removal system.
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Celerier, Bruno, Propulsion system for controlling the orbit and controlling the attitude of a satellite.
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Blincow, John Jeffrey, Satellite.
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Kitazawa, Yukihito; Kawabe, Aritsune; Hashimoto, Kozue; Sonehara, Mitsuharu; Uji, Masaru; Morita, Shinya; Nomura, Katsuaki; Nakanishi, Ayumi, Space debris removing device and space debris removing method.
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