Propulsion system comprising plurality of individually selectable solid fuel motors

Abstract

A propulsion system for use with a satellite comprises a substrate, a communication network and a cluster of individually selectable solid fuel motors mounted on the substrate and operatively connected to the communication network. A controller is also operatively connected to the communication network and operative to select any one of more motors of the cluster of individually selectable solid fuel motors and transmit signals to fire the one or more motors of the individually selectable solid fuel motors. The substrate may have various configurations. The cluster of motors may comprise 10-1000 motors, which may be arranged in a rectangular array or other formation. Subsets of motors having different impulse capabilities may be employed. In this manner, lighter, smaller, flexible and more efficient propulsions systems may be provided for use in attitude control, etc. of satellites.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.