摘要:
An elliptical satellite system which carries out communication. The satellite orbits a height above the earth less than that necessary for geosynchronous orbits. When the satellite is near the apogee portion of its orbit, its velocity approximates the rotational velocity of the earth, and during that period it appears to hover over the earth. Each ground station on the earth always communicates a satellite within a predetermined position of its apogee, and hence that satellite appears to the ground station to hover over the earth. The satellite hence does not communicate with any earth station when it is outside of that apogee portion. During the times when the satellite is outside the apogee portion, its communication is therefore shut off to prevent any possibility of interfering with geosynchronous satellites. During this time, the power supply on the satellite is also used to charge a battery on the satellite. This enables the power supply to be made smaller by an amount equivalent to the duty cycle of the satellite: during the time which it is on.
摘要:
A method of operating a battery, for example, in a geosynchronous spacecraft is presented for maximizing its service life. According to this method, the energy requirements are determined, specifically those to be satisfied by the battery at a plurality of incremental events over a predetermined operating period as when the spacecraft is in the shadow of the earth. Then, the battery is maintained at a state of charge at least sufficient to satisfy the sum of (i) the energy requirements of the battery at each of the plurality of incremental events and (ii) an energy reserve for the battery in the event of a malfunction of the spacecraft. The charge capacity of the battery is preferably adjusted in a stepwise fashion in accordance with its predetermined energy requirements. By utilizing the invention, the battery is maintained at a full state of charge for less than approximately half of the earlier mentioned predetermined operating period such that the service life of the battery is enhanced.
摘要:
A space platform assembly designed to be attached to the outer surface of a space station structure for deployment of a tethered space platform into isolation orbit alongside the space station. The space platform is designed to carry payloads such as for research experimentation in the microgravity environment of space. The tether comprises a loose power/data umbilical for the deployed space platform while it orbits free of the vibration and g-jitter problems of the space station.
摘要:
Device and method for more equally distributing heat dissipation between multiple radiators of a satellite. The device includes radiator panels mounted on the satellite, power sources mounted on some or all of the radiator panels, and loads capable of inhibiting current from adjacent power sources and accepting current only from nonadjacent power sources.
摘要:
A low-cost, liquid-propellant rocket launch vehicle having a central pod that carries an optional final-stage rocket engine cluster, and having additional engine clusters arranged in diametrically opposed pairs of clusters. The pairs of clusters are burned and separated in a staging sequence until the final stage is reached. In the presently preferred embodiment, there are three pairs of engine clusters arranged in a hexagonal configuration about the central pod and each engine cluster contains seven identical engines. The engines are made from light-weight, low-cost materials, without gimbals or other moving parts. Steering of the vehicle is effected by differential control of the engine thrusts of selected engines, using duty-cycle modulation of a plurality of on/off propellant supply valves and, additionally, control of other on/off valves controlling the supply of an inert cryogenic fluid to secondary injection ports on the engine. An onboard gas generator provides inert gas for fluid pressurization and preferably uses as its principal reactant the same material used as the cryogenic fluid. Navigation is effected with inexpensive onboard systems and the entire vehicle provides a dramatic reduction in cost in comparison with conventional launch vehicles.
摘要:
In an energy generating system, which is preferably suitable for satellites and space stations, a total of four Stirling engines are combined together into a cross-shaped unit, in the center of which is arranged a cross-gear drive that is acted upon by the pistons of the Stirling engines. Therein, two planet gears revolve around in internally toothed annular gears. The common shaft of the annular gears is connected with the piston rods of the Stirling engines by an inner crankshaft, which simultaneously carries the planet gears, and by an outer crankshaft articulately connected with the inner crankshaft. Both crankshafts comprise counterweights as balancing masses, whereby a complete mass balancing of the cross-gear drive and therewith a vibration-free operation of the entire arrangement is achieved.
摘要:
A thermoelectric element sheet includes at least two layered structures having a plurality of thermoelectric elements which are arranged between insulating films. In each layered structure the thermoelectric semiconductors are arranged in pairs and electrodes connect the thermoelectric semiconductors of each pair to provide a plurality of structural units. Further electrodes connect the structural units. The thermoelectric element sheet can be used in thermoelectric energy conversion systems which depend on the Seebeck, Peltier or Thomson effect to convert thermal energy to electrical energy or vice versa.
摘要:
A reactor for producing hot hydrogen in vacuo which in turn drives a power-generating device such as a turbine is disclosed. Within the reactor are injected heat-generating reactants such as beryllium and oxygen. The reactants heat hydrogen which in turn is delivered to a power-generating device such as a turbine.
摘要:
A system for transmitting microwaves to one or more receiver assemblies comprises an array of separate microwave transmitting assemblies for emitting a plurality of microwave beams, the array being arranged to apparently fill a radiating aperture of predetermined shape and size when viewed from the direction of a receiver assembly, and a phase controlling assembly associated with the microwave transmitting assemblies for controlling the relative phase of the emitted beams to form at least one composite shaped microwave beam directed to at least one receiver assembly. The receiver assembly is located in the near field of the microwave beam. The transmitting assemblies are each associated with separate power sources comprising solar power collecting assemblies. In one arrangement the transmitting system is on the moon and the or each receiver assembly is on Earth.
摘要:
A method for generating power and a power supply for use in the atmosphere on Mars that use the Martian atmosphere as a working fluid. The power supply has an open Brayton cycle combined turbocompressor and turbogenerator that use the Martian atmosphere for their operation. The Martian atmosphere working fluid picks up heat derived from a nuclear heat source that transfers the heat to the working fluid by laminar flow heat exchange. The combined turbocompressor and turbogenerator have provisions for separating dust from the dust laden Martian atmosphere and for operating with any residual Martian atmospheric dust that is ingested into the combined turbocompressor and turbogenerator. Reliability of operation is achieved by having two functionally separate power operating units that each have their own combined turbocompressor and turbogenerator and by only using one power unit at a time.