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US 12,420,957 B1Granted
Starshade
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorGeorge Richard Rossi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A starshade is provided that includes a circular base and opaque petals pivotably coupled to a perimeter of the circular base. The opaque petals are configured to pivot radially outward from a center axis of the circular base, wherein each of the opaque petals overlaps at least a portion of an adjacent opaque petal, and wherein each of the opaque petals tapers outward through a proximal section of the opaque petal and tapers inward through a distal section of the opaque petal.
Claims11
A starshade, comprising:
- a circular base;
- a plurality of opaque petals pivotably coupled to a perimeter of the circular base;
- an actuator coupled to the plurality of opaque petals and configured to pivot the plurality of opaque petals radially outward from a center axis of the circular base;
- a plurality of spherically mounted retroreflectors mounted on distal ends of respective ones of the plurality of opaque petals;
- and
- a laser tracker coupled to the circular base and configured to determine relative positions of the plurality of spherically mounted retroreflectors.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.