Patents Assigned to Space
  • Publication number: 20200381831
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna assembly includes a plurality of layers defining an antenna assembly including a plurality of PCB layers and a plurality of non-PCB layers, the antenna assembly having a top surface and a bottom surface, and adhesive coupling between the PCB layers and the non-PCB layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: David Milroy, Samuel Belden
  • Publication number: 20200381799
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna apparatus includes a housing assembly including a radome portion and a lower enclosure portion, wherein the radome portion and lower enclosure portion are couplable to form an inner compartment for housing antenna components of the antenna assembly, an antenna stack assembly disposed within the inner compartment, wherein the antenna stack assembly generates heat when in operation, and a heat transfer system within the inner compartment configured to facilitate the flow of heat toward the radome portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: David Milroy, Duncan E. Adams, Andrea Papi, Scott Kaufman, Ersin Yetisir, Anthony Sims
  • Publication number: 20200381842
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna assembly includes a patch antenna array including an upper patch antenna layer, a lower patch antenna layer, and a spacer therebetween, wherein the spacer includes a plurality of apertures defined by cell walls, wherein the each aperture aligns with an upper patch antenna element and a lower patent antenna element from the patch antenna array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: David Milroy, Duncan E. Adams, Ersin Yetisir
  • Publication number: 20200379118
    Abstract: A low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite includes a global positioning receiver configured to receive first signaling from a first plurality of non-LEO navigation satellites. An inter-satellite transceiver is configured to send and receive inter-satellite communications with other LEO navigation satellites. At least one processor is configured to execute operational instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include: determining an orbital position of the LEO satellite based on the first signaling; and generating a navigation message based on the orbital position. A navigation signal transmitter configured to broadcast the navigation message to at least one client device, the navigation message facilitating the at least one client device to determine an enhanced position of the at least one client device based on the navigation message and further based on second signaling received from a second plurality of non-LEO navigation satellites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Xona Space Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Gerald René Reid, Kazuma Gunning, Adrien Louis Henry Perkins, Andrew Michael Neish
  • Publication number: 20200381814
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a housing for an antenna system having a plurality of antenna elements defining an antenna aperture includes a chassis portion, and a radome portion configured for coupling to the chassis portion to define an inner chassis chamber, the radome portion having a planar top surface, wherein the radome portion is configured to have equal spacing between the planar top surface and a top surface of each of the plurality of antenna elements defining the antenna aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Ersin Yetisir, Trevor Cameron, David Milroy, Duncan E. Adams
  • Publication number: 20200381817
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a housing for an antenna system having a plurality of antenna elements defining an antenna aperture includes a chassis portion having an internal support portion for internal components for the plurality of antenna elements including a bonding portion for bonding an antenna stack assembly to the chassis portion, and a radome portion configured for coupling to the chassis portion to define an inner chassis chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Duncan E. Adams, David Milroy
  • Publication number: 20200369380
    Abstract: A method for active flow control of a fluid flow that flows along a flow surface includes generating a first local velocity field in the fluid flow by introducing a first vortex structure into the fluid flow by a first flow control actuator coupled to a first actuation site of the flow surface, and introducing a second vortex structure into the first local velocity field by a second flow control actuator coupled to a second actuation site of the flow surface located downstream of the first actuation site, when a head vortex of the first vortex structure has propagated with the fluid flow downstream the second actuation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicants: Airbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Langenbacher, Bruno Stefes
  • Patent number: 10843822
    Abstract: A constellation of satellites includes a first plurality of satellites orbiting at a first inclination, wherein the first plurality of satellites are each in a discrete planar orbit to form a first snake of satellites, the first snake of satellites including adjacent satellites in adjacent orbits having adjacent RAAN (Right Ascension of the Ascending Node).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Jonathan F. C. Herman, Stephen Mance, Paul Forquera, Mark Krebs
  • Patent number: 10844464
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a niobium metal alloy composition includes: a vanadium content in the range of about 1.5 to about 12 weight percent; a hafnium content in the range of about 5 to about 13 weight percent; a titanium or zirconium content or a mixture of titanium and zirconium content in the range of about 0.25 to about 2.5 weight percent; and a niobium content as a balance of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Gavin J. Garside, Kevin A. Lohner, Meagan R. Slater, Charles Kuehmann, David R. Snyder, Jason T. Sebastian, Gregory B. Olson
  • Publication number: 20200365305
    Abstract: An electropermanent magnet array is provided. The electropermanent magnet array includes one or more of a plurality of electropermanent magnets of common length, arranged in a parallel fashion, and a planar pole piece, coupled to the first ends of the plurality of electropermanent magnets. Each electropermanent magnet includes a first and a second end opposite the first end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Altius Space Machines Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas Jochum
  • Patent number: 10839704
    Abstract: Simulation of a complex system involves representing the complex system in a plurality of simulation building blocks, each simulation building block is associated with a subsystem of the complex system. Each simulation building block includes at least one client-side simulation component and a server-side simulation component. During the simulation a user interaction is detected by a client-side simulation component, the complex system is simulated in server-side simulation components on the basis of the user interaction. Simulation data for the subsystem is generated by the server-side simulation components, and the subsystem is represented by the corresponding client-side components based on the simulation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Oswald, Robert Huber, Martin Foerster
  • Patent number: 10841890
    Abstract: A Long-Term Evolution (LTE) E-UTRAN Node B (eNodeB) for use in satellite markets. The LTE eNodeB supports extreme channel latencies without the need for any User Equipment (UE) (e.g., mobile handsets) modifications, independent of the UE release or the technology used by the network operator. The system supports high channel latencies in LTE, though can also be used for other wireless technologies such as GSM, 5G New Radio (NR) or any other technologies with similar procedures to those used in LTE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SRS Space Limited
    Inventors: Paul D. Sutton, Ismael Gomez Miguelez, Justin C. Tallon
  • Patent number: 10840072
    Abstract: Energy conversion systems that may employ control grid electrodes, acceleration grid electrodes, inductive elements, multi-stage anodes, and emissive carbon coatings on the cathode and anode are described. These and other characteristics may allow for advantageous thermal energy to electrical energy conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Space Charge, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Sweeney, Devin Vollmer, John Read
  • Patent number: 10836108
    Abstract: A system including a deposition system to create a layer of an object during an additive manufacturing process, a material feeder to deliver a material for application to the object by the deposition system, a first sensor to measure at least one characteristic of the material, a rangefinder to determine a height of the deposition system above a build location where the object is being additively manufactured, and a traverse system to adjust a height of the deposition system from the build location responsive to a measurement taken by the first sensor. Another system and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MADE IN SPACE, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Snyder
  • Patent number: 10841000
    Abstract: The present teachings is generally directed to systems and methods for facilitating communications with a satellite. In some embodiments, a request to communicate with a satellite may be received from a client device, and upon determining that a device identifier associated with the client device is associated with an account authorized to connect to one or more satellite ground stations, a schedule of activity for the account may be retrieved. The schedule of activity may indicate a time period that the client device is authorized to connect to the satellite ground station(s) such that data is communicated between the satellite and the client device, and the satellite ground station(s) may be configured to communicate with the satellite. At a start of the time period, a connection between the client device and the satellite ground station(s) may be generated, and via the connection, data may be provided to the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Atlas Space Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Brad Arnold Bode
  • Publication number: 20200354090
    Abstract: The invention concerns a satellite deployment system (30) for launch vehicles. Said satellite deployment system (30) comprises an outer dispenser (31) that is fitted, externally, with first releasable attachment means for releasably attaching first satellites (81) to said outer dispenser (31) and, internally, with an internal housing volume (310). Moreover, the satellite deployment system (30) further comprises at least an inner dispenser (32,33) that is externally fitted with second releasable attachment means for releasably attaching second satellites (82,83) to said inner dispenser (32,33), and that is accommodated in the internal housing volume (310) of the outer dispenser (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Aniceto Panetti, Massimiliano Marcozzi
  • Patent number: 10830736
    Abstract: The disclosure herein relates to a measuring system for determining damage to components including at least one fiber-reinforced plastics material, comprising sensors that can be or are arranged on a component to be mutually spaced, the sensors distributed over a curved surface of the component in the use position. In order provide a measuring system by which it is possible to obtain fiber-reinforced plastics components economically and with reasonable outlay, and by which process parameters and/or state variables can be reliably obtained during production and operation of the component, it is proposed to provide the component with a substrate that is different from the component and on which the sensors can be or are arranged, the substrate being flexible, and for the sensors arranged on the flexible substrate to form a measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Alois Friedberger, Andreas Helwig, Matthias Buderath
  • Patent number: 10833215
    Abstract: A multi-junction solar cell having a first subcell made of an InGaAs compound. The first subcell has a first lattice constant and A second subcell has a second lattice constant. The first lattice constant is at least 0.008 ? greater than the second lattice constant. A metamorphic buffer is formed between the first subcell and the second subcell and has a sequence of at least three layers and a lattice constant increases from layer to layer in the sequence in the direction toward the first subcell. The lattice constants of the layers of the buffer are greater than the second lattice constant, and a layer of the metamorphic buffer has a third lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant. A number N of compensation layers for compensating the residual stress of the metamorphic buffer is formed between the metamorphic buffer and the first subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Guter, Matthias Meusel, Frank Dimroth, Lars Ebel, Rene Kellenbenz
  • Patent number: 10829245
    Abstract: An apparatus for launching, recovering, transporting, and storing vehicles is disclosed. The apparatus stabilizes the vehicle while it is in operation or inactive and has a frame connected to at least one stabilizer. In certain configurations, the apparatus stabilizes the vehicle without using the vehicle's onboard landing gear. The apparatus may also include at least one pad connected to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Masten Space Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Yeong Seok Powers, David Masten, Reuben Alexander Garcia, Joel Scotkin
  • Publication number: 20200350407
    Abstract: A stacked, high-blocking III-V semiconductor power diode having a first metallic terminal contact layer, formed at least in regions, and a highly doped semiconductor contact region of a first conductivity type and a first lattice constant. A drift layer of a second conductivity type and having a first lattice constant is furthermore provided. A semiconductor contact layer of a second conductivity, which includes an upper side and an underside, and a second metallic terminal contact layer are formed, and the second metallic terminal contact layer being integrally connected to the underside of the semiconductor contact layer, and the semiconductor contact layer having a second lattice constant at least on the underside, and the second lattice constant being the lattice constant of InP, and the drift layer and the highly doped semiconductor contact region each comprising an InGaAs compound or being made up of InGaAs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicants: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH, 3-5 Power Electronics GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel FUHRMANN, Gregor KELLER, Clemens WAECHTER, Volker DUDEK