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US 5,582,366 AGranted
Satellite fueling system and method therefor
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsJames E. Hamant, John R. McBride, David H. Cubbage
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsJames E. Hamant, John R. McBride, David H. Cubbage
Estimating the term…
A self-contained fueling module (10) provides the exact amount of hydrazine necessary to fuel a satellite (50) prior to launch. The fueling module (10) includes a propellant tank (14), a vacuum tank (12) and a pressurant tank (16). The propellant tank, filled with hydrazine, is shipped to the launch site where it is installed in the fueling module. Prior to launch, the fueling module is connected to the satellite and the hydrazine is driven with Helium pressurant into the satellite fuel tank. The Helium also pressurizes the satellite fuel tank to flight pressure. Any remaining fuel is evacuated from the connections (45) and fuel transfer lines (42) with the vacuum tank. Personnel do not have to wear self-contained atmospheric pressurized environment (SCAPE) suits because there is no risk of hydrazine exposure.
A method of loading propellant from an integrated fueling module into a satellite fuel tank, said integrated fueling module including a fuel transfer tank with a predetermined amount of propellant, said fuel transfer tank having an input and an output, a pressurant tank filled with a pressurant and having an output coupled to said input of said fuel transfer tank, and a vacuum tank coupled to said output of said fuel transfer tank, said method comprising the steps of:
A method for loading propellant onto a satellite comprising the steps of:
An integrated fueling module for loading propellant into a satellite fuel tank through a fuel transfer line comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.