Redundant system for satellite inclination control with electric thrusters

A redundant system comprising:

• a first electrical plasma thruster;
• a thruster mounting boom;
• a two-axis gimbals mechanism connecting said first thruster to said thruster mounting boom;
• a pivot mechanism connected to said thruster mounting boom, said pivot mechanism adapted for attaching said thruster mounting boom to a spacecraft;
• and
• a second electrical plasma thruster.

A redundant system comprising:

• an electrical plasma thruster;
• a thruster mounting boom;
• a two-axis gimbals mechanism connecting said thruster to said thruster mounting boom, wherein said redundant system includes a gimbals actuator and a gimbals control unit for controlling said two-axis gimbals mechanism to position and point said first electrical plasma thruster;
• a pivot mechanism connected to said thruster mounting boom, said pivot mechanism adapted for attaching said thruster mounting boom to an anti-nadir side of a spacecraft, wherein said redundant system includes a pivot actuator and a pivot control unit for pivoting and positioning said thruster mounting boom;
• and
• a second electrical plasma thruster.

A method comprising steps of:

• providing a first thruster mounted on a pivoting thruster mounting boom attached to a spacecraft;
• using said first thruster at a first position to provide orbit control;
• repositioning said first thruster to a second position;
• and
• using said first thruster at said second position to provide orbit control so as to provide redundancy for a second thruster, in case of failure of said second thruster, by repositioning said first thruster.