Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling and correcting the attitude of a spacecraft or a spacecraft-based payload due to disturbances that cause attitude changes determined by a spacecraft attitude measurement sensor and one or more additional attitude measurement sensors on the spacecraft. The systems and methods measure the attitude of the spacecraft and measure relative attitude errors between the spacecraft and the payload. The measurements are processed to generate control signals that selectively control the pointing direction of the spacecraft or payload. Embodiments are disclosed wherein the additional attitude measurement sensor is disposed on a platform that is stable with respect to the spacecraft attitude measurement sensor, and wherein it is disposed on a platform that is not stable with respect to the spacecraft attitude measurement sensor.

Abstract: A space vehicle includes an attachment system for attaching the vehicle to another space vehicle, a memory for storing data concerning the status of the other space vehicle and threats experienced by the other space vehicle, and a transmission system for transmitting data stored in the memory to a planet or a different space vehicle. An ejection system enables the secondary vehicle to be ejected from the primary vehicle when predetermined criteria concerning the status data or the threat data are met. A spin system causes the secondary vehicle to be spin stabilized when ejected from the primary vehicle. When the secondary vehicle is ejected, the nature of the threat or status of the primary vehicle can be determined.

Abstract: A space vehicle including an attachment system for attaching the vehicle to another space vehicle, a memory for storing data concerning at least one of the status of the other space vehicle and threats experienced by the other space vehicle, and a transmission system for transmitting data stored in the memory to at least one of a planet or a different space vehicle. An ejection system causes the secondary vehicle to be ejected from the primary vehicle when predetermined criteria concerning the status data or the said threat data are met. A spin system causes the secondary vehicle to be spin stabilized when ejected from the primary vehicle. The vehicle serves as, at least, one of a plurality of secondary vehicles, attached to the other (primary) vehicle. In accordance with the method of the invention, when the secondary vehicle is ejected the nature of the threat or status of the primary vehicle can be determined.

Abstract: A spacecraft having a body, one or more appendages coupled thereto, and a controller that implements methods that rotate the one or more flexible appendages to point it (them) towards the Sun to reduce spacecraft attitude pointing disturbances and improves spacecraft attitude pointing. The steps of the one or more appendages are timed to deadbeat the disturbance imparted to the spacecraft body. Timing of the appendage steps may be such that the periodic disturbances are phased to substantially cancel each other, or phased to decrease the magnitude of the net disturbance. The present invention also cancels solar array slew disturbances. The present invention cancels predictable disturbance torques before they produce a pointing error, improving the spacecraft pointing performance.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface provided on a TV screen includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels provided by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch a TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. Up and down scroll bars, that allow the user to scan through the entire list of TV channels, dynamically alter their size in accordance with the position of the TV channel being currently scanned to provide the user with visual feedback. A relative position indicator is arranged between the up and down scroll bars.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface is provided with a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels offered by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A program guide that contains a list of TV programs may be provided based on the channel changer. Vertical program bars that display TV programs are aligned with the channel boxes indicating TV channels that carry the corresponding TV programs. An arrange guide mode is provided to enable the user to arrange the program guide in order of TV channel numbers, or in alphabetical order according to names of TV channels or TV programs.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface (GUI) is provided to enable a user to input antenna location information required for setting up a dish antenna. When the TV GUI is set in a dish set-up mode, the user may activate a U.S. map button to display a map of the United States or another area on the earth's surface. When a remote pointing device is directed at a point on the map that represents the current location of a satellite receiver, the TV GUI displays a regional map that shows in more detail a region where the receiver is located. When the user selects the receiver location within the regional map, the CPU determines the latitude and longitude values of the selected location, and calculates magnetic north and elevation angles for the antenna installation. To provide the user with visual feedback, the TV GUI may indicate the city nearest to the selected location, and a distance to the nearest city.

Abstract: A system and method for RF autotracking multiple antennas to compensate for disturbances experienced by the antennas. The system and method uses two control algorithms implemented in fast and slow controllers and sums the result for each antenna that is tracked. One (fast) control algorithm corrects for rapid, common mode disturbances such as spacecraft motion disturbances, while the other (slow) control algorithm corrects for slower disturbances, such as thermal distortion, that do not affect all antennas in the same manner.

Abstract: A method of searching a database uses a plurality of search criteria each having an implicit logical operation associated therewith. After one or more of the search criteria is selected, a computer system with appropriate software formulates the search including the implicit logical operation to search the database, all without the need for the user to input any logical operation connecting the one or more of the selected desired search criterion. An operation is performed on a portion of the search result.

Abstract: A method of searching a database uses a plurality of search criteria each having an implicit logical operation associated therewith. After one or more of the search criteria is selected, a computer system with appropriate software formulates the search including the implicit logical operation to search the database, all without the need for the user to input any logical operation connecting the one or more of the selected desired search criterion.