Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Fox

Stephen M. Fox 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).

  • Attitude control system for spacecraft utilizing the thruster plume
    Patent number: 4407469
    Abstract: An attitude control system for spacecraft having thrusters utilizes the exhaust plume of the thrusters for attitude control. At least one of the thrusters is canted so that its reaction line of thrust, when misaligned with one of the spacecraft's primary axes; causes a control torque to develop about said axis which aids the plume torque about said axis resulting from the plume of the one thruster impinging on a surface such as that of a solar panel on the spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Fox