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US 6,191,728 B1Granted
Agile satellite targeting
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorDavid A. Bailey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for targeting a satellite orbiting earth between to sites on earth based on an access time that is transmitted from a ground station. Control momentum gyros are used to change the satellite's attitude for targeting. A gryo rate is selected based the longest time to target. The longest time is a value selected from the access time, the time to reach the target based on the satellite's attitude and the time to reach the target based on the gyro rate.
Claims6
A method for targeting an orbiting satellite, comprising:
- transmitting a target position and access time for the target to the satellite;
- receiving the target position and access time on the satellite;
- producing on the satellite a first time remaining signal by determining the time remaining to reach the target position as a function of a position error signal manifesting the difference between a desired satellite attitude and actual satellite attitude;
- producing on the satellite a second time remaining signal by determining on the satellite the time remaining to reach the target position as a function of a position error signal manifesting the difference between a desired attitude velocity for said position error signal and actual satellite attitude velocity;
- selecting the longest time between the access time and first and second time remaining signals;
- and
- producing said desired satellite attitude as a function of said longest time.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.