IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0847988
(2010-07-30)
|
등록번호 |
US-8336826
(2012-12-25)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- The Aerospace Corporation
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Henricks, Slavin & Holmes LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
Propulsion systems and methods utilize one or more propellant masses in the form of smart propellant devices to move a spacecraft or other object through outer space and/or substantially airless environments. A spacecraft maneuver, for example, is facilitated by forces imparted on the spacecraft res
Propulsion systems and methods utilize one or more propellant masses in the form of smart propellant devices to move a spacecraft or other object through outer space and/or substantially airless environments. A spacecraft maneuver, for example, is facilitated by forces imparted on the spacecraft resulting from the ejection of one or more smart propellant devices from the spacecraft and/or the recapture of one or more of the propellant masses at the spacecraft. The smart propellant devices are each programmed to return to the spacecraft along a particular trajectory and to impact the spacecraft at a particular time and place. The spacecraft is provided with ejection devices and recovery devices that eject and recover, respectively, the one or more smart propellant devices. The recovery devices can also be configured to capture kinetic energy from incoming smart propellant devices.
대표청구항
▼
1. A propulsion method, comprising: ejecting a smart propellant device from a spacecraft resulting in an ejection force being imparted to the spacecraft; andcontrolling the smart propellant device to return to the spacecraft. 2. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device i
1. A propulsion method, comprising: ejecting a smart propellant device from a spacecraft resulting in an ejection force being imparted to the spacecraft; andcontrolling the smart propellant device to return to the spacecraft. 2. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected while the spacecraft is orbiting a planet or moon. 3. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected while the spacecraft is in space or a substantially zero atmosphere environment. 4. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected while the spacecraft is traveling into or through outer space. 5. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected while the spacecraft is launching from an airless primary body. 6. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected in an anti-flight direction in relation to movement of the spacecraft. 7. The propulsion method of claim 6, wherein the smart propellant device is controlled to return to the spacecraft from the anti-flight direction. 8. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant is ejected in a flight direction in relation to movement of the spacecraft. 9. The propulsion method of claim 8, wherein the smart propellant device is controlled to return to the spacecraft from the flight direction. 10. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is controlled to return to the spacecraft after the spacecraft has completed an integer number of orbits. 11. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the ejection force reduces an orbital velocity of the spacecraft to approximately zero. 12. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the ejection force facilitates a maneuver by the spacecraft. 13. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver is facilitated exclusively utilizing smart propellant devices that are initially ejected from the spacecraft. 14. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver is facilitated without utilizing any forces imparted upon the spacecraft resulting from recovering, or recovering and ejecting, a propellant mass that was initially ejected or launched from a location other than the spacecraft. 15. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver includes injecting the spacecraft into or displacing the spacecraft from an orbit. 16. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver includes raising or lowering an orbit of the spacecraft. 17. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver includes deploying a thruster of the smart propellant device. 18. The propulsion method of claim 17, wherein the thruster of the smart propellant device is deployed to reverse a direction of movement of the smart propellant device. 19. The propulsion method of claim 17, wherein the thruster of the smart propellant device is deployed at or near apoapsis of the smart propellant device in relation to a gravitating body. 20. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver includes deploying a thruster of the spacecraft. 21. The propulsion method of claim 20, wherein the thruster of the spacecraft is deployed to reposition the spacecraft in relation to an airless primary body. 22. The propulsion method of claim 12, wherein the maneuver includes an apoapsis-reflection, orbit rephasing, or counter-streaming capture maneuver. 23. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein ejecting the smart propellant device includes accelerating the smart propellant device to launch the smart propellant device from the spacecraft. 24. The propulsion method of claim 23, wherein the smart propellant device is accelerated using a mechanical, pneumatic, or electromagnetic device. 25. The propulsion method of claim 23, wherein the smart propellant device is accelerated using a spring. 26. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected at a velocity that causes the smart propellant device and the spacecraft to subsequently be in the same place at the same time. 27. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein controlling the smart propellant device includes responding to commands generated by the smart propellant device. 28. The propulsion method of claim 27, wherein the commands include guidance control commands for controlling movement of the smart propellant device. 29. The propulsion method of claim 1, wherein controlling the smart propellant device includes controlling the smart propellant device to travel along a trajectory. 30. The propulsion method of claim 29, wherein the trajectory is at least initially elliptical in shape. 31. The propulsion method of claim 29, wherein controlling the smart propellant device includes modifying the trajectory. 32. The propulsion method of claim 31, wherein the trajectory is modified in consideration of a position determination made by the smart propellant device. 33. The propulsion method of claim 32, wherein the position determination is made utilizing a Global Positioning System (GPS) or an optical sensor. 34. The propulsion method of claim 32, wherein the position determination is made utilizing a Carrier-phase Differential Global Positioning System (CDGPS) technique. 35. The propulsion method of claim 32, wherein the position determination is made during a terminal guidance phase of the trajectory. 36. The propulsion method of claim 1, further comprising: recovering the smart propellant device at the spacecraft resulting in a recovery force being imparted to the spacecraft. 37. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the ejection force results in a first impulse to the spacecraft that changes an orbit of the spacecraft, and the recovery force results in a second impulse to the spacecraft that further changes the orbit. 38. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the smart propellant device is ejected at an ejection velocity and is controlled to impact the spacecraft at a return velocity that is approximately equal to the ejection velocity. 39. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the smart propellant device is recovered while the spacecraft is orbiting a planet or moon. 40. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the smart propellant device is recovered while the spacecraft is in space or a substantially zero atmosphere environment. 41. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the smart propellant device is recovered while the spacecraft is traveling into or through outer space. 42. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the smart propellant device is recovered after the spacecraft has been launching from an airless primary body. 43. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein the recovery force facilitates a maneuver by the spacecraft. 44. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver is facilitated exclusively utilizing smart propellant devices that are initially ejected from the spacecraft. 45. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver is facilitated without utilizing any forces imparted upon the spacecraft resulting from recovering, or recovering and ejecting, a propellant mass that was initially ejected or launched from a location other than the spacecraft. 46. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver includes injecting the spacecraft into or displacing the spacecraft from an orbit. 47. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver includes raising or lowering an orbit of the spacecraft. 48. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver includes deploying a thruster of the smart propellant device. 49. The propulsion method of claim 48, wherein the thruster of the smart propellant device is deployed to reverse a direction of movement of the smart propellant device. 50. The propulsion method of claim 48, wherein the thruster of the smart propellant device is deployed at or near apoapsis of the smart propellant device in relation to a gravitating body. 51. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver includes deploying a thruster of the spacecraft. 52. The propulsion method of claim 51, wherein the thruster of the spacecraft is deployed to reposition the spacecraft in relation to an airless primary body. 53. The propulsion method of claim 43, wherein the maneuver includes an apoapsis-reflection, orbit rephasing, or counter-streaming capture maneuver. 54. The propulsion method of claim 36, wherein recovering the smart propellant device includes decelerating the smart propellant device when the smart propellant device impacts the spacecraft. 55. The propulsion method of claim 54, wherein the smart propellant device is decelerated using a mechanical, pneumatic, or electromagnetic device. 56. The propulsion method of claim 54, wherein the smart propellant device is decelerated using a spring. 57. The propulsion method of claim 54, wherein recovering the smart propellant device further includes capturing the incoming kinetic energy of the smart propellant device. 58. The propulsion method of claim 57, wherein the incoming kinetic energy is captured using a spring and a mechanically-operated power generator, which is operationally engaged in response to compression of the spring. 59. The propulsion method of claim 57, wherein the incoming kinetic energy is captured using an electromagnetic device configured to operate as a power generator. 60. The propulsion method of claim 36, further comprising: re-ejecting the smart propellant device from the spacecraft resulting in an additional ejection force being imparted to the spacecraft;controlling the smart propellant device to again return to the spacecraft; andre-recovering the smart propellant device at the spacecraft resulting in an additional recovery force being imparted to the spacecraft. 61. A propulsion method, comprising: ejecting a plurality of smart propellant devices from a spacecraft resulting in one or more ejection forces being imparted to the spacecraft; andcontrolling the smart propellant devices to return to the spacecraft. 62. The propulsion method of claim 61, wherein the smart propellant devices are sequentially ejected. 63. The propulsion method of claim 61, wherein the smart propellant devices are ejected at different velocities. 64. The propulsion method of claim 61, wherein the smart propellant devices are put into different orbits. 65. The propulsion method of claim 61, wherein the one or more ejection forces facilitate a maneuver by the spacecraft. 66. The propulsion method of claim 65, wherein the maneuver is facilitated exclusively utilizing smart propellant devices that are initially ejected from the spacecraft. 67. The propulsion method of claim 65, wherein the maneuver is facilitated without utilizing any forces imparted upon the spacecraft resulting from recovering, or recovering and ejecting, a propellant mass that was initially ejected or launched from a location other than the spacecraft. 68. The propulsion method of claim 61, further comprising: recovering one or more of the smart propellant devices at the spacecraft resulting in one or more recovery forces being imparted to the spacecraft. 69. The propulsion method of claim 68, wherein the one or more recovery forces facilitate a maneuver by the spacecraft. 70. The propulsion method of claim 69, wherein the maneuver is facilitated exclusively utilizing smart propellant devices that are initially ejected from the spacecraft. 71. The propulsion method of claim 69, wherein the maneuver is facilitated without utilizing any forces imparted upon the spacecraft resulting from recovering, or recovering and ejecting, a propellant mass that was initially ejected or launched from a location other than the spacecraft. 72. The propulsion method of claim 68, wherein recovering one or more of the smart propellant devices includes decelerating one or more of the smart propellant devices when the one or more smart propellant devices impact the spacecraft. 73. The propulsion method of claim 72, wherein recovering one or more of the smart propellant devices further includes capturing the incoming kinetic energy of the one or more smart propellant devices. 74. The propulsion method of claim 72, further comprising: re-ejecting at least one of the one or more smart propellant devices that were recovered resulting in one or more additional ejection forces being imparted to the spacecraft;controlling the one or more smart propellant devices to again return to the spacecraft; andre-recovering at least one of the one or more smart propellant devices at the spacecraft resulting in one or more additional recovery forces being imparted to the spacecraft. 75. A propulsion method, comprising: (a) ejecting one or more smart propellant devices from a spacecraft;(b) controlling the one or more smart propellant devices to return at least one of the one or more smart propellant devices to the spacecraft;(c) recovering one or more returning smart propellant devices; and(d) repeating (a)-(c) until forces resulting from (a) and (c), that in the aggregate facilitate a maneuver of the spacecraft, have been imparted to the spacecraft, or until the maneuver is completed or aborted. 76. The propulsion method of claim 75, wherein the maneuver is facilitated exclusively utilizing smart propellant devices that are initially ejected from the spacecraft. 77. The propulsion method of claim 75, wherein the maneuver is facilitated without utilizing any forces imparted upon the spacecraft resulting from recovering, or recovering and ejecting, a propellant mass that was initially ejected or launched from a location other than the spacecraft.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.