EFFICIENT STATIONKEEPING DESIGN FOR MIXED FUEL SYSTEMS

摘要

Apparatus and methods for stationkeeping in a satellite. The satellite includes a north electric thruster and a south electric installed on a zenith side. An orbit controller selects a duration of a burn of the north electric thruster proximate to an ascending node that differs from a duration of a burn of the south electric thruster proximate to a descending node. The orbit controller is configured to select an offset of the burn of the north electric thruster in relation to the ascending node that differs from an offset of the burn of the south electric thruster in relation to the descending node.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a satellite configured to orbit around the Earth, the satellite comprising:
a satellite bus having a nadir side that faces the Earth and a zenith side opposite the nadir side;a north electric thruster installed toward a north region of the zenith side and oriented downward to produce thrust through a center of mass of the satellite;a south electric thruster installed toward a south region of the zenith side and oriented upward to produce thrust through the center of mass of the satellite; and an orbit controller that controls stationkeeping maneuvers for the satellite; the orbit controller is configured to select a duration of a burn of the north electric thruster proximate to an ascending node that differs from a duration of a burn of the south electric thruster proximate to a descending node; the orbit controller is configured to select an offset of the burn of the north electric thruster in relation to the ascending node that differs from an offset of the burn of the south electric thruster in relation to the descending node.