Space craft axis stabilizer apparatus, system and method

摘要

A three-axis stabilized spacecraft (20) having roll, pitch, and yaw axes and when on station in orbit about the earth having a north face (28) and a south face (30) is equipped with a first and second thruster (44A, 44B) which may be electric thrusters. A first support device (42) mounts the first thruster (44A) adjacent the north face (28) and the first thruster (44A) is positioned a spaced distance away from the north face (28) in a first direction parallel to the pitch axis and spaced from the pitch axis in a second direction normal to the pitch axis. A second support device (42) mounts the second thruster (44B) adjacent the south face (30), the second thruster being positioned a spaced distance away from the south face in a third direction opposite the first direction and spaced from the pitch axis in the second direction. A gimbal mechanism (52, 54) pivotally mounts the first and second thrusters (44A, 44B) on the first and second support devices (42), respectively, for selectively positioning the attitude of the first and second thrusters (44A, 44B). The spacecraft includes a system for performing one or more operations including the following: thrusting along the yaw axis to assist in reaching a geosynchronous orbit; reducing the stored angular momentum of the momentum wheels; and north-south station keeping of the spacecraft. <IMAGE>