US 6,283,416 B1 · Spacecraft kernel

Abstract

A spacecraft architecture is defined that distinguishes components and sub-systems based on both functional and physical dependencies. On one side of the interface are kernel components that are both functionally and physically independent of the vehicle configuration and functionally and physically independent of the mission-specific system. On the other side of the interface are components that depend on either the spacecraft configuration or the mission-specific system. The kernel components can be included in a variety of spacecraft, independent of the spacecraft architecture and independent of the spacecraft mission. The kernel includes a communications system for communicating with an earth station, a command and data handling processor, and a power regulation and distribution system. The preferred kernel is extensible by allowing the selection of different capacity components within the kernel, each different capacity component utilizing the same standardized interface for communicating with the vehicle and mission-specific components. By providing a standardize interface and extensible kernel, design changes do not propagate beyond the standardized interface, thereby substantially damping the costly ripple effect typically associated with changes that are introduced late in the design cycle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A spacecraft kernel having a standard electrical interface for communicating with one or more spacecraft sub-systems, comprising:

a standard electrical interface on the spacecraft kernel for communicating with one or more spacecraft sub-systems,
a receiver that is configured to receive commands from an earth station,
a transmitter that is configured to transmit data to the earth station, and
a processor, operably coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, that is configured to:
process the commands from the earth station and produces therefrom sub-system commands,
process communications from the one or more spacecraft sub-systems and produces therefrom the data that is transmitted to the earth station;
wherein
the standard electrical interface is operably coupled to the processor and the one or more spacecraft sub-systems, and is configured to:
provide the sub-system commands to the one or more spacecraft sub-systems in a standard format, and
receive the communications from the one or more spacecraft sub-systems in the standard format.

7 more elements

A spacecraft kernel having a standard electrical interface for communicating with one or more spacecraft sub-systems, comprising:

a power management system that is configured to receive a variable power input and produces therefrom a regulated power output,
a receiver that is configured to receive commands from an earth station,
a transmitter that is configured to transmit data to the earth station, and
a processor, operably coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, that is configured to:
process the commands from the earth station and produces therefrom sub-system commands,
process communications from the one or more spacecraft sub-systems and produces therefrom the data that is transmitted to the earth station;
wherein:
the standard electrical interface is operably coupled to the processor, the power management system, and the one or more spacecraft sub-systems, and is configured to:
provide the sub-system commands to the one or more spacecraft sub-systems in a standard format,
receive the communications from the one or more spacecraft sub-systems in the standard format,
receive the variable power input from a power generation system,
communicate the variable power input to the power management system,
receive the regulated output from the power management system, and
provide the regulated power output to the one or more spacecraft sub-systems.

11 more elements

A spacecraft system comprising:

a mission-specific system that includes:
a collection system that is configured to collect mission data, and
a first processor, operably coupled to the collection system, that is configured to process the mission data and produces therefrom data items in a standard format;
a kernel that includes:
a second processor that is configured to process the data items from the mission-specific system in the standard format and to produce therefrom processed data, and
a transmitter, operably coupled to the second processor, that is configured to transmit the processed data to an earth station;
and
an electrical interface, operably coupled to the mission-specific system and the kernel, that is configured to communicate the data items from the mission-specific system to the kernel in the standard format.

5 more elements

A spacecraft system comprising:

a mission-specific system that includes:
a collection system that is configured to collect mission data, and
a first processor, operably coupled to the collection system, that is configured to process the mission data and produces therefrom data items in a standard format;
a kernel that includes:
a power management system that is configured to receive a variable power input and produces therefrom a regulated power output,
a second processor that is configured to process the data items from the mission-specific system in the standard format and to produce therefrom processed data, and
a transmitter, operably coupled to the second processor, that is configured to transmit the processed data to an earth station;
and
an electrical interface, operably coupled to the mission-specific system and the kernel, that is configured to:
communicate the data items from the mission-specific system to the kernel in the standard format
receive the variable power input from a power generation system, communicate the variable power input to the power management system,
receive the regulated output from the power management system, and provide the regulated power output to the one or more spacecraft sub-systems.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spacecraft kernel

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Spacecraft kernel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20