Patents by Inventor Harald Juergen Weigl

Harald Juergen Weigl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • High-efficiency REA optimized stationkeeping
    Patent number: 6908064
    Abstract: A velocity change (?V) thruster is operated on a spacecraft, which unavoidably causes attitude error. A reaction wheel (RWA) corrects the attitude. At the beginning of the thruster maneuver, the total attitude control momentum required to at least correct for the ?V thruster attitude errors over the duration of the entire maneuver is determined, and the RWA momentum may also be determined. Attitude control thrusters (REAs) are operated. The REAs are operated to correct at least the net ?V thruster induced attitude error, and preferably also to reset the RWA to its nominal momentum. The maneuver may be stationkeeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Evan Goodzeit, Santosh Ratan, Harald Juergen Weigl
  • High-efficiency REA optimized stationkeeping
    Publication number: 20040069905
    Abstract: A velocity change (&Dgr;V) thruster is operated on a spacecraft, which unavoidably causes attitude error. A reaction wheel (RWA) corrects the attitude. At the beginning of the thruster maneuver, the total attitude control momentum required to at least correct for the &Dgr;V thruster attitude errors over the duration of the entire maneuver is determined, and the RWA momentum may also be determined. Attitude control thrusters (REAs) are operated. The REAs are operated to correct at least the net &Dgr;V thruster induced attitude error, and preferably also to reset the RWA to its nominal momentum. The maneuver may be stationkeeping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Neil Evan Goodzeit, Santosh Ratan, Harald Juergen Weigl