Low earth orbit with electric propulsion
AssigneeBlue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
InventorsDavid Alan Degenhardt, Kyle Patrick Doyle, David Aaron Kornuta, Zachary Reid Tolley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for low earth orbit (LEO) using electric propulsion. Long-duration, low thrust, electric thrusters provide a constant thrust force to a space vehicle experiencing drag forces to maintain LEO within a range of orbital altitudes. Space vehicles in LEO configured to be pressurized for human habitation can use the electric propulsion systems. The long duration may be 180 consecutive days or longer. The electric propulsion may be solar electric propulsion or other types of electric propulsion.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A space vehicle for orbiting Earth in a low earth orbit (LEO), the space vehicle comprising:
- a propellant storage tank configured to hold a propellant;
- a solar array configured to generate electrical energy;
- a plurality of solar electric propulsion thrusters configured to collectively generate a continuous thrust force in a forward direction using electrical power to accelerate the propellant for a time period, to thereby cause the space vehicle to travel in the LEO along an orbit in the forward direction, wherein the space vehicle is configured to have a drag force act on the space vehicle in an aft direction opposite the forward direction when the space vehicle travels in the LEO;
- one or more sensors configured to generate acceleration data related to acceleration of the space vehicle;
- and
- a control system configured to adjust the continuous thrust force of the plurality of solar electric propulsion thrusters based on the acceleration data such that the generated continuous thrust force in the forward direction is approximately equal to the drag force in the aft direction to thereby maintain the space vehicle within a range of orbital altitudes in the LEO for the time period.
A space vehicle for orbiting Earth in a low earth orbit (LEO), the space vehicle comprising:
- a propellant storage tank configured to hold a propellant;
- a plurality of electric propulsion thrusters configured to collectively generate a continuous thrust force in a forward direction using electrical power to accelerate the propellant for a time period, to thereby cause the space vehicle to travel in the LEO along an orbit in the forward direction, wherein the space vehicle is configured to have a drag force act on the space vehicle in an aft direction opposite the forward direction when the space vehicle travels in the LEO;
- one or more sensors configured to generate acceleration data related to acceleration of the space vehicle;
- and
- a control system configured to adjust the continuous thrust force of the plurality of electric propulsion thrusters based on the acceleration data such that the generated continuous thrust force in the forward direction to counteract the drag force in the aft direction to thereby maintain the space vehicle within a range of orbital altitudes in the LEO for the time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.