摘要:
An afterbody device for a spacecraft fitted with at least one rocket engine at the rear of the craft includes at least one movable cover element designed to take a first position, masking and reducing the vehicle's rear drag, where it prolongs the vehicle's fuselage around at least one part of a rocket engine nozzle of the vehicle and extends beyond the rear of the vehicle's fuselage, and to take a second position fully deployed, increasing the vehicle's aerodynamic drag.
摘要:
A satellite thermal management system for dissipating excess heat generated within a satellite. The thermal management system includes a central platform for mounting heat dissipating components. A first thermal radiator panel and a second thermal radiator panel are mounted to the central platform. The first thermal radiator panel is arranged to face East when the satellite is in orbit. The second thermal radiator panel is arranged to face West when the satellite is in orbit. The first and second thermal radiator panels are thermally coupled to the central platform and are configured to radiate heat dissipated by the heat dissipating component mounted on the central platform.
摘要:
A passive thermal control system maintains the operating temperature range of protected equipment within desired limits by controlling the conductive attributes of thermal interfaces and physical relationships within the system so as to achieve a desired thermal balance. In one embodiment, an integrated cell unit (100) includes a solar array (102), a Lithium ion cell (108) and an antenna assembly (114) such as a phased array antenna. In operation, a thermal gradient (116) is defined between the array (102) and the assembly (114) as the assembly (114) radiates heat from the array (102) into space. The operating temperature range of the cell (108) is controlled by appropriate design of the thermal interfaces between the cell (108) and the assembly (114) and/or interfaces within the assembly (114), such as a thermal interface associated with dielectric spacers provided between emitter pairs of the assembly (114).
摘要:
An In Orbit Transportation & Recovery System (IOSTAR™) (10) is disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a space tug powered by a nuclear reactor (19). The IOSTAR™ includes a collapsible boom (11) connected at one end to a propellant tank (13) which stores fuel for an electric propulsion system (12). This end of the boom (11) is equipped with docking hardware (14) that is able to grasp and hold a satellite (15) and as a means to refill the tank (13). Radiator panels (16) mounted on the boom (11) dissipate heat from the reactor (19). A radiation shield (20) is situated next to the reactor (19) to protect the satellite payload (15) at the far end of the boom (11). The IOSTAR™ (10) will be capable of accomplishing rendezvous and docking maneuvers which will enable it to move spacecraft between a low Earth parking orbit and positions in higher orbits or to other locations in our Solar System.
摘要:
System for fixing an insulation blanket (2) to a panel (1). It comprises buttons (8), loops (9) with ends twisted together, and hooks (12) that can easily accommodate the loops (9) when the blanket (2) is already laid.
摘要:
A novel, high-efficiency, extremely light-weight, inflatable refractive solar concentrator for space power is described. It consists of a flexible Fresnel lens, flexible sides, and a back surface, together enclosing a volume of space which can be filled with low pressure gas to deploy the concentrator on orbit. The back surface supports the energy receiver/converter located in the focal region of the Fresnel lens. The back surface can also serve as the waste heat radiator. Prior to deployment, the deflated flexible lens and sides are folded against the back surface to form a flat, low-volume package for efficient launch into space. The inflatable concentrator can be configured to provide either a line focus or a point focus of sunlight. The new inflatable concentrator approach will provide significant advantages over the prior art in two different space power areas: photovoltaic concentrator arrays and high-temperature solar thermal conversion systems. Photovoltaic concentrator arrays using the new inflatable lens will be much lighter than prior space concentrator arrays. In addition, for photovoltaic concentrator arrays, the new inflatable lens will eliminate the need for a fragile glass superstrate to support the lens, substantially improving robustness of the lens. Solar thermal concentrator arrays using the new inflatable lens will be much lighter than prior art space concentrators which used parabolic mirrors. In addition, for solar thermal applications in space, the new inflatable lens will eliminate the need for high surface accuracy, which has been a significant problem for prior art concentrators.
摘要:
A sun-synchronous sun ray blocking device for use in a spacecraft having a directionally controlled main body, such as a low inclination angle earth (as well as other planets) orbit spacecraft, that is, a three axis stabilized spacecraft having north, south, east, west, earth and anti-earth panels defining a spacecraft main body. The north and south panels, on which the spacecraft equipment with high heat dissipation is usually mounted, have their planar normal axes relatively parallel to the spinning axis of the earth. Normal to each of the north and south panel, a solar panel loaded with solar cells is extended and is directly rotating about the same axis. The solar panels are controlled in such a way that the solar cells side of the panels always faces the sun. Each solar panel's blocking device is situated between the solar panel and sun, attached to its solar panel and rotated therewith, to block the sunlight from the north and south panels, providing a stable, benign thermal environment for those panels.
摘要:
A paint is a liquid or solid mixture of a plurality of particles and an inorganic binder such as a silicate. The particles have a composition A[xAl(1-x)Ga].sub.2 O.sub.4.+-..gamma. (.delta.In), wherein A is zinc, magnesium and/or cadmium, the value of x is from 0 to 1, the value of .delta. is from 0 to about 0.2, and the value of .gamma. is less than about 0.2. In the liquid mixture, a paint vehicle is also typically present to impart the desired fluidity to the mixture. The solid paint made using this material is white, has very low solar absorptance, and may be made electrically conductive by doping the particles with indium or other appropriate dopant.
摘要:
A satellite, especially a geostationary satellite, which includes: at least one face (5) which is used as a thermal radiator for the equipment carried on board the satellite (1) and is arranged in the path of the solar radiation (9); at least one solar panel (7) which is a generator of electricity, which is pointed continuously toward the sun and projects from the face (5); and a screen (14) secured to the solar panel (7), which is arranged at the periphery of the satellite and which stops the solar radiation (9) directed toward the face (5). The satellite is noteworthy in that the solar panel (7) is arranged centrally with respect to the face (5) and the screen (14) is secured to the solar panel (7) by an arm (15).
摘要:
A spacecraft body configuration having east and west sides which are greater in length than the body's north and south sides. The east and west sides each have antennas which extend from one end of each of said east and west sides to the other end of each of said east and west sides. The north and south sides have radiators. The longer east-west side configuration may be used not only to accommodate larger east-west side antennas, but also to accommodate deployable radiators on the north and south sides.