Patents Assigned to Space
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Publication number: 20190252801Abstract: Embodiments of present disclosure are directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods relating to antenna apertures in phased array antenna systems directed to configuring antenna lattices in a space tapered configuration and mapping from the antenna lattices, interspersing of antenna elements in an antenna aperture, and rotation of antenna element in the antenna aperture for purity polarization.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.Inventors: Alireza Mahanfar, Javier Rodriguez De Luis, Nil Apaydin, Ersin Yetisir, Shaya Karimkashi Arani
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Publication number: 20190252774Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a phased array antenna system includes a first portion carrying an antenna lattice including a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a first configuration, a second portion carrying a beamformer lattice including a plurality of beamformer elements, wherein the plurality of beamformer elements are arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion carrying at least a portion of a mapping including a first plurality of mapping traces on a first surface providing at least a portion of the electrical connection between the plurality of antenna elements and the plurality of beamformer elements, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements are electrically coupled to one of the plurality of beamformer elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.Inventors: Javier Rodriguez De Luis, Robert Baummer, JR., Nil Apaydin, Alireza Mahanfar
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Publication number: 20190252775Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a phased array antenna system includes a first portion carrying an antenna lattice including a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a first configuration, and a second portion carrying a beamformer lattice including a plurality of beamformer elements, wherein the plurality of beamformer elements are arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements are electrically coupled to one of the plurality of beamformer elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: Space Exploration Technologies Corp.Inventors: Alireza Mahanfar, Javier Rodriguez De Luis
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Patent number: 10378986Abstract: Pressure sensors are disclosed that may perform health monitoring in-situ in harsh operating environments. The pressure sensors may be based on a Clapp-type oscillator that includes one or more resistors, one or more inductors, capacitors, a sensor, and a transistor. Such pressure sensors may be particularly well-suited various applications, such as gas turbine engines, oil and gas extraction, vehicle engines, and exhaust monitoring.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Maximilian C. Scardelletti
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Patent number: 10380219Abstract: A method for computing self-contamination processes of a spacecraft by means of a data processing device comprising the following steps: receiving a first set of input parameters comprising general definitions of the spacecraft, receiving a second set of input parameters comprising control parameters for the spacecraft orbital data, physics, numeric, and a predetermined accuracy requirement of the computation, computing a self-contamination process of the spacecraft based on the received first and second sets of input data by either evaluating the analytical solution of a basic equation of emission or numerically solving the basic equation of emission for calculating a deposit of molecules outgassed from surfaces of the spacecraft with a numerical solver with the data processing device, wherein the numerical solver applies an adaptive stepsize control based on the preset accuracy requirement of the computation, and outputting the calculated deposit.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE GMBHInventor: Joerg Heitzer
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Patent number: 10378521Abstract: A microthruster system may include a substrate and a source film. The substrate may include a plurality of emitter tips, and a source film deposited on the substrate. The source film may include silver. The microthruster system may also include a solid electrolyte film, which may include chalcogenide film, deposited over the source film. The solid electrolyte film may cause ions of the source film to move to the plurality of emitter tips.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: William C West
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Patent number: 10381748Abstract: A satellite communication system provides for handovers between satellites and multiple gateways. Terminals communicate with a first gateway via a first satellite as beams of the first satellite traverse the region. A second gateway is in communication with the first satellite and hands over to a second satellite. The first gateway is at a first location. The second gateway is at a second location separated from the first location in the orbital direction. Terminals handover to the second satellite as beams of the second satellite begin to traverse the region, and the terminals start connecting to and communicating with the second gateway via the second satellite. After all of the terminals of the plurality of terminals handover to the second satellite, the first gateway hands over to the second satellite and then the terminals in the region communicate with the first gateway via the second satellite.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLCInventors: William Hreha, Anne Elizabeth Wharton
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Patent number: 10381455Abstract: A diffusion barrier system may prevent migration of gold, oxygen, or both on a plurality of ohmic contacts. The diffusion barrier system may include a first barrier system or a second barrier system. Each barrier system may include a first metallization layer, a second metallization layer, and a third metallization layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Robert Okojie
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Publication number: 20190241280Abstract: An aircraft having a warning device for generating a whistling sound has a fuselage and a warning device. The warning device has a sound-generating element which is designed to generate a whistling sound if the aircraft is in an uncontrolled dive in the direction of the surface of the earth and there is a flow of fluid against the sound-generating element. The warning device is at least partially arranged on the fuselage of the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventors: Marc Dominik Mayer, Bastian Schäfer
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Publication number: 20190241274Abstract: A drive system for an aircraft has a first energy store for supplying electrical energy, a second energy store for supplying electrical energy, and an electric drive for supplying drive power for the aircraft. An energy distribution unit of the drive system is designed to transmit the supplied electrical energy of the first energy store and the supplied electrical energy of the second energy store to the electric drive. The energy distribution unit is also designed to charge the second energy store using a first portion of the energy supplied by the first energy store and at the same time to transmit a second portion of the energy supplied by the first energy store to the electric drive, in order to supply the drive power for the aircraft. An aircraft having a drive system and a method for supplying drive power for an aircraft are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventor: Peter Hunkel
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Publication number: 20190241286Abstract: A capture interface is provided. The capture interface is configured to be rigidly affixed to an external surface of a recovery object and captured by a capture device. The capture interface includes a matte ferromagnetic surface of flat disposition and geometric outline, configured to facilitate capture by the capture device. The ferromagnetic surface includes a capture interface identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2019Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: Altius Space Machines Inc.Inventors: Jonathan Andrew Goff, Joshua Charles Nelson, Shreya Udupa
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Patent number: 10371579Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a blackbody calibration target having a textured silicon substrate comprising a base comprising a plurality of needle like structures extending away from the base and having a total emissivity of greater than 99.5% from an electromagnetic radiation source having a wavelength greater than or equal to about 400 nanometers and less than or equal to about 1 mm. The disclosure is further directed to a blackbody calibration target system, and instrument which includes the blackbody calibration target, and a method of calibrating an instrument.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: William R. Johnson, Karl Y. Yee, Simon J. Hook
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Patent number: 10371066Abstract: An unmanned aircraft includes a propulsion system having a diesel or kerosene internal combustion engine and a charger device for engine charging. The propulsion system can be a hybrid propulsion system or a parallel hybrid propulsion system.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2018Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Florian Stagliano, Jan Van Toor
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Patent number: 10372288Abstract: A representation device for representing and interacting with a three-dimensional virtual scenario includes an input unit and at least one representation region for representing the three-dimensional scenario. A marking element may be moved on a virtual surface area with two translational degrees of freedom such that each virtual object in the three-dimensional virtual scenario may be selected with the marking element.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbHInventors: Leonhard Vogelmeier, David Wittmann
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Patent number: 10370087Abstract: A propeller device for aircraft, spacecraft or watercraft comprising two or more blades and a spinner. The blades are arranged on a hub so that they can be in a deployed or a retracted position. The spinner comprises first, second and third movable portions configured for allowing deploying or retracting the blades and for keeping the blades deployed or retracted.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE S.A.Inventors: Jesús López Ferrer, Eugenio Garrido Corralejo
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Publication number: 20190236964Abstract: A method of visibility event navigation includes receiving, via processing circuitry of a client device, a first visibility event packet from a server, the first visibility event packet including information representing 3D surface elements of an environmental model that are occluded from a first viewcell and not occluded from a second viewcell, the first and second viewcells representing spatial regions of a specified navigational route within a real environment modeled by the environmental model. The method also includes acquiring, surface information representing the visible surfaces of the real environment at a sensor and determining, a position in the real environment by matching the surface information to the visibility event packet information. The method further includes transmitting, the position from the client device to the server and receiving a second visibility event packet from the server if the at least one position is within the specified navigational route.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: PRIMAL SPACE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventor: Barry L. JENKINS
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Patent number: 10364051Abstract: A stationkeeping strategy for a satellite disposed in a TAP orbit includes controlling parameters of the orbit such that, for a constellation of two satellites disposed in the orbit, the constellation provides substantially continuous coverage of a polar region. The stationkeeping strategy includes one or more of: establishing an initial Right Ascension of Ascending Node (RAAN) of the operational orbit such that naturally caused orbital drift results in a mid-life RAAN of approximately 0 degrees (360 degrees); and controlling Argument of Perigee (ARGP), only indirectly, by performing orbit maintenance maneuvers only to directly control one or more of the operational orbit apogee altitude, the operational orbit perigee altitude, and inclination within a respective required range.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLCInventor: Andrew E. Turner
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Patent number: 10364483Abstract: One or more substitutional elements may be used to reduce the solution treatment temperature and required quench rates for hardening of 60-NITINOL. The advantages of modified NITINOL include that less energy is consumed during the heat treatment process, the material is subjected to less thermal distortion, and less machining is required. Modified NITINOL may have adequate hardness for bearing applications and may display highly elastic behavior.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Malcolm K. Stanford, Ronald D. Noebe, Christopher DellaCorte, Glen Bigelow, Fransua Thomas
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Patent number: 10367575Abstract: A spacecraft payload subsystem includes a tracking receiver, an input multiplexer, an antenna pointing mechanism (APM) controller and a plurality of antenna reflectors. Each antenna reflector is mechanically coupled with a respective APM, and illuminated by a respective tracking feed element. Each respective tracking feed element is configured to receive an uplink beacon signal from the ground by way of one of the antenna reflectors and is coupled, by way of a respective pseudo-monopulse (PSM) coupler and the input multiplexer, to the tracking receiver. The tracking receiver is configured to receive multiplexed signals from the PSM couplers by way of the input multiplexer and output corresponding pointing error information to the APM controller. The APM controller is configured to send commands to one or more of the APMs. Each APM is configured to point a respective antenna reflector in response to the commands.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLCInventors: Deborah Mathews, Michael Aliamus, Gordon Wu, Ty Davis Lee
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Patent number: D856040Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2016Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Retail Space Solutions LLCInventors: Craig A. Fluegge, Christopher J. Turner