公开(公告)号：US3588000A

公开(公告)日：1971-06-28

申请号：US3588000D

申请日：1968-07-29

Applicant: WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP

Inventor： BUCKINGHAM ARTHUR G ,  MILLER JAMES A ,  SHAPIRO GEORGE

IPC: B64G1/24 ,  B64G1/40 ,  B64G1/00

CPC classification number: B64G1/407 ,  B64G1/242

Abstract: CONTROLLING THE ORBIT POSITION OF A PLANAR- REFLECTOR SATELLITE ORBITING A PLANET SUCH AS THE EARTH AND HAVING COMMANDABLE PITCH AND ROLL ATTITUDE CHANGING MEANS FOR AIMING SUCH SATELLITE TO REFLECT ENERGY FROM THE SUN TO A DESIRED AREA ON THE PLANET''S SURFACE. BY SUITABLE COMMAND OF THE PITCH AND ROLL ATTITUDE CHANGING MEANS DURING NONFUNCTIONAL PORTIONS OF EACH ORBIT CYCLE THE PLANAR REFLECTOR IS ORIENTATED RELATIVE TO THE SUN FOR CONTROLLING THE NET EFFECT OF SOLAR PRESSURE THEREON PER ORBIT TO ACCELERATE, DECELERATE, OR MAINTAIN AVERAGE VELOCITY OF THE SATELLITE, HENCE CONTROL ORBITAL PERIOD AND THE POSITION OF THE SATELLITE AT CORRESPONDING TIMES DURING SUCCESSIVE ORBITS.