Extendable antenna reflector deployment techniques
AssigneeSpace Systems/Loral, Inc.
InventorVarouj G. Baghdasarian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high capacity satellite having a launch configuration in which one or more antenna reflectors may be stored forward of a forward surface of the spacecraft and an on-orbit configuration in which a reflector boom may be extended forward and rotated to place the one or more antenna reflectors outboard of the spacecraft main body and further forward of the forward surface of the spacecraft.
Claims30
A spacecraft, the spacecraft being reconfigurable between a launch configuration and an on-orbit configuration, the spacecraft comprising:
- a forward surface;
- an aft surface;
- a main body disposed between the forward surface and the aft surface;
- a first rigid antenna reflector, wherein the first rigid antenna reflector is:
- (i) disposed, in the launch configuration, in a first position forward of the forward surface, and
- (ii) disposed, in the on-orbit configuration, a first distance outboard of the main body and a second distance forward of the first position, the first distance and the second distance being substantially orthogonal to one another;
- a first antenna feed associated with the first rigid antenna reflector;
- a mechanism configured to move the first rigid antenna reflector between the launch configuration and the on-orbit configuration, wherein the mechanism comprises:
- an elevator tower disposed with a first end proximate to the forward surface and a second end substantially forward of the main body;
- and
- an elevator truck, wherein the elevator truck is configured to translate a first pivot along the elevator tower from a first position at the first end of the elevator tower to a second position at the second end of the elevator tower, wherein translation of the elevator truck along the elevator tower causes the first rigid antenna reflector to move between the launch configuration and the on-orbit configuration
- a first reflector boom having a first proximal end and a first distal end located along a longitudinal axis, the first proximal end coupled with the elevator truck via the first pivot and the first distal end coupled with the first rigid antenna reflector, wherein,
- in the on-orbit configuration, the elevator truck is in the second position, the first reflector boom is extended away from the elevator tower and rotated about the first pivot, and the first rigid antenna reflector is illuminated by the first antenna feed.
An antenna reflector deployment mechanism for a spacecraft, the antenna reflector deployment mechanism being reconfigurable between a launch configuration and an on-orbit configuration, configured to be mounted to a forward surface of a main body of the spacecraft, and comprising:
- an elevator tower, wherein the elevator tower is configured to be disposed with a first end proximate to the forward surface and a second end further away from the forward surface of the spacecraft;
- an elevator truck, wherein the elevator truck is configured to translate a first pivot along the elevator tower from a first position at the first end of the elevator tower to a second position at the second end of the elevator tower;
- a first rigid antenna reflector;
- a first reflector boom having a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end coupled with the elevator truck via the first pivot and the first distal end coupled with the first rigid antenna reflector,
- wherein, in the on-orbit configuration, the elevator truck is in the second position, the first reflector boom is extended away from the second end of the elevator tower at a substantial angle with respect to the elevator tower, and the aperture plane of the first rigid antenna reflector is substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the first pivot, and
- wherein the first rigid antenna reflector is:
- disposed, in the launch configuration, in a first position forward of the forward surface, and
- disposed, in the on-orbit configuration, a first distance outboard of the main body and a second distance forward of the first position, the first distance and the second distance being substantially orthogonal to one another, and
- translation of the elevator truck along the elevator tower causes the first rigid antenna reflector to move between the launch configuration and the on-orbit configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.