Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Yale and Dorr LLP
  • Patent number: 6385512
    Abstract: A technique for transferring an object such as a spacecraft to one of the stable Lagrange points, for instance L4 or L5, utilizes a substantially negligible amount of delta-V. In doing so, payload amounts may be increased. Initially, a modified weak stability boundary transfer with parameters sufficient to transfer the spacecraft from a first heavenly object or a first heavenly object orbit to a vicinity of a second heavenly object is performed. Then, the spacecraft is momentarily captured at a capture point located in the vicinity of the second heavenly object. Upon capture, a maneuver is executed at the capture point to target the stable Lagrange point utilizing a substantially negligible amount of propellant. Finally, the spacecraft arrives at the stable Lagrange point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Galaxy Development LLC
    Inventor: Edward A. Belbruno