| 摘要 |
<p>A system and method for propelling spacecraft (101, 102, 103) is disclosed. An electrical propulsion system (141) is mounted on a base stage (104). A plurality of spacecraft couplers (121, 122, 123) are also mounted on the base stage (104). Each spacecraft coupler (121, 122, 123) securely attaches a spacecraft (101, 102, 103) to the base stage (104). Each spacecraft (101, 102, 103) includes an internal power source that is coupled to the electrical propulsion system (141) via an electrical connection. The internal power source consists of solar panels (113) and/or batteries. A power regulation circuit (204) is coupled between the electrical propulsion system and each internal power source. The power regulation circuit is draws an equal and proportional amount of power from each spacecraft. The spacecraft are preferably satellites and the electrical propulsion system preferably propels the base stage and attached satellites from a lower-Earth orbit to a higher-Earth orbit so that the electrical propulsion system in each satellite need only be capable of providing propulsion for orbit maintenance and maneuvering.</p> |
