Thruster orbit control method and configuration
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United States of America Patent
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Aug 25, 2015
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N/A
app pub date -
Mar 9, 2015
filing date -
Aug 10, 2012
priority date (Note) -
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide an ion-thruster stationkeeping method and mounting configuration that reduces the propellant penalty when a single thruster fails, e.g., in the case where only three of a spacecraft's four ion thrusters are available. By improving firing efficiency for the single-thruster failure case, on-board propellant is reduced, thereby allowing increased payload mass. Also, the configuration supports both N/S and E/W stationkeeping using four ion thrusters (or three thrusters for the failure case) and therefore does not require a separate propulsion system or thrusters for E/W stationkeeping.
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