Patents by Inventor Robert S. Day, JR.

Robert S. Day, JR. 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).

  • Stationkeeping techniques for spacecraft in inclined geosynchronous orbit
    Patent number: 10543937
    Abstract: A constellation of Earth-orbiting spacecraft, the constellation having an orbital maneuver lifetime life (OML), includes a first spacecraft disposed in a first orbit and a second spacecraft disposed in a second orbit, each of orbit being substantially circular with a radius of approximately 42,164 km and having a respective inclination with respect to the equator specified within a range of 10° to 20°. The first orbit has, at beginning of life (BOL), a first right ascension of ascending node (BOL-RAAN1) and the second orbit has, at BOL, a second RAAN (BOL-RAAN2) the BOL-RAAN1 and the BOL-RAAN2 being separated by a first angular separation ?-RAAN1. A first stationkeeping delta-V (?V1) applied over the OML to the first spacecraft, in combination with a second delta-V (?V2) applied over the OML to the second spacecraft, maintains the ?-RAAN1 approximately constant and an actual inclination within specification, and ?V1 approximately equals ?V2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventors: Darren R. Stratemeier, Andrew E. Turner, Robert S. Day, Jr.
  • STATIONKEEPING TECHNIQUES FOR SPACECRAFT IN INCLINED GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT
    Publication number: 20170247124
    Abstract: A constellation of Earth-orbiting spacecraft, the constellation having an orbital maneuver lifetime life (OML), includes a first spacecraft disposed in a first orbit and a second spacecraft disposed in a second orbit, each of orbit being substantially circular with a radius of approximately 42,164 km and having a respective inclination with respect to the equator specified within a range of 10° to 20°. The first orbit has, at beginning of life (BOL), a first right ascension of ascending node (BOL-RAAN1) and the second orbit has, at BOL, a second RAAN (BOL-RAAN2) the BOL-RAAN1 and the BOL-RAAN2 being separated by a first angular separation ?-RAAN1. A first stationkeeping delta-V (?V1) applied over the OML to the first spacecraft, in combination with a second delta-V (?V2) applied over the OML to the second spacecraft, maintains the ?-RAAN1 approximately constant and an actual inclination within specification, and ?V1 approximately equals ?V2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Darren R. Stratemeier, Andrew E. Turner, Robert S. Day, JR.