摘要 |
A thruster system for spacecraft includes a thruster, a thruster mounting boom, a gimbals mechanism connecting the thruster to the thruster mounting boom, and a pivot mechanism connected to the thruster mounting boom, where the pivot mechanism attaches the thruster mounting boom to a spacecraft. A method includes steps of providing a first thruster mounted on a pivoting thruster mounting boom attached to a spacecraft; using the first thruster at a first position, for example, a north pointing position, to provide orbit control; repositioning the first thruster to a second position, for example, a south pointing position; and using the first thruster at the second position to provide orbit control so as to provide redundancy for a failed second thruster by repositioning the first thruster.
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