EP4463379A1 - Module de deploiement orbital avec un systeme de propulsion spatial a trois points - Google Patents
Module de deploiement orbital avec un systeme de propulsion spatial a trois pointsInfo
- Publication number
- EP4463379A1 EP4463379A1 EP23703083.8A EP23703083A EP4463379A1 EP 4463379 A1 EP4463379 A1 EP 4463379A1 EP 23703083 A EP23703083 A EP 23703083A EP 4463379 A1 EP4463379 A1 EP 4463379A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- propulsion
- propulsion system
- blocks
- satellite
- housings
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/24—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
- B64G1/242—Orbits and trajectories
- B64G1/2427—Transfer orbits
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/24—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
- B64G1/244—Spacecraft control systems
- B64G1/245—Attitude control algorithms for spacecraft attitude control
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/10—Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/24—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
- B64G1/26—Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using jets
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
- B64G1/401—Liquid propellant rocket engines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/40—Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
- B64G1/402—Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants
- B64G1/4022—Arrangements of tanks in or on spacecraft
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
- B64G1/64—Systems for coupling or separating cosmonautic vehicles or parts thereof, e.g. docking arrangements
- B64G1/641—Interstage or payload connectors
Definitions
- the invention relates to the technical field of space propulsion systems and more particularly to the architecture of a propulsion system for an orbital deployment module.
- space propulsion systems for orbital deployment modules such as satellites or modules transporting satellites
- a fixed thruster architecture In a fixed thruster architecture, four points of propulsion are generally used distributed at the four corners of a square or a rectangle depending on the distribution of the load on the orbital deployment module.
- This type of architecture has the advantage of having a simplified control, and therefore a simplified software control architecture.
- This architecture effectively makes it possible to have thruster control based on the sending of propulsion pulses to the thrusters with the possibility of decorrelating the propulsion along each of the two axes from an orthogonal reference frame defined by the arrangement of the four points propulsion.
- the main purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide an orbital deployment space module equipped with a propulsion system whose size and cost, excluding tanks, are reduced, the space gained being able to be intended to increase the capacity of the tanks. or housings intended to receive one or more satellites.
- a three-point propulsion system for an orbital deployment space module for at least one satellite comprising:
- chassis comprising exactly three first housings shaped to each receive a propulsion unit and at least one second housing shaped to receive a tank
- each propulsion unit being arranged in one of the first housings, and each propulsion unit comprising at least one thruster, and
- control unit configured to control the supply and the power developed by each of the propulsion units.
- a three-point propulsion system greatly reduces space and costs compared to a four-point propulsion system.
- this reduction is not obvious because it forces the use of completely different propulsion control logic than a four-point propulsion system.
- the pitch steering function is coupled with the yaw steering function in the control logic. This reduction in size and costs is only possible with a more complex control command for the propulsion units.
- the first three housings can each be arranged at a vertex of the same triangle whose center of gravity of the triangle corresponds to the center of gravity of the propulsion system.
- the first three housings are each arranged at a vertex of the same equilateral triangle.
- the propulsion units can comprise the same number of thrusters, and preferably identical thrusters.
- the chassis can have a shape, in a section plane comprising the three propulsion units, with a number of sides equal to a multiple of the number 3.
- Such a geometric shape of the chassis of the propulsion system makes it possible to optimize the shape of the orbital space module equipped with such a propulsion system with respect to the space allocated by said space module.
- the frame may have a hexagonal shape in a section plane comprising the three propulsion units.
- the frame may further comprise a central housing shaped to receive at least one satellite intended to be put into orbit.
- the chassis may include a removable link interface to receive at least one satellite intended to be put into orbit
- each thruster can be oriented parallel to a main propulsion direction which is perpendicular to a plane comprising the three propulsion units, and the propulsion system further comprises an auxiliary propulsion system comprising auxiliary thrusters oriented in a direction perpendicular to the main propulsion direction.
- the auxiliary propulsion system makes it possible in particular to generate propulsion in a tangential direction, in particular to rotate the propulsion system, and therefore the space module fitted with this propulsion system, around its main axis which corresponds to the propulsion axis main propulsion system.
- control unit can be configured to determine, on each movement of the propulsion system, the thrust that each of said three propulsion units must develop for the desired movement.
- control unit comprises positioning sensors such as for example a star sighting sensor or for example a global positioning system (GPS).
- positioning sensors such as for example a star sighting sensor or for example a global positioning system (GPS).
- GPS global positioning system
- control block includes a chopping block configured to control propulsion torque by chopping power to the propulsion blocks with a calculated chopping time for each of the propulsion blocks.
- an orbital deployment space module for at least one satellite comprising an enclosure configured to transport at least one satellite to be put into space orbit, and a propulsion system with three propulsion points such as defined above.
- Figure 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a propulsion system of an orbital deployment space module according to a first embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 schematically represents a perspective view of an orbital deployment space module according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3 schematically represents a sectional view of a propulsion system of an orbital deployment space module according to a second embodiment of the invention.
- Figure 1 is shown schematically a sectional view of a propulsion system of an orbital deployment space module according to one embodiment of the invention.
- the propulsion system 1 comprises a frame 2, three main propulsion units 3, and three fuel tanks 4.
- the cutting plane of FIG. 1 intersects the three propulsion units 3, and comprises a first direction x and a second direction y orthogonal to the first direction x.
- the section plane xy is orthogonal to a third direction z parallel to the main direction of propulsion of the propulsion system 1 .
- Chassis 2 comprises a central housing 5 intended to receive one or more satellites (not shown in FIG. 1) intended to be placed in orbit by an orbital deployment space module on the side of said propulsion system 1.
- Chassis 2 further comprises three first housings 6 shaped to each receive a block 3 of main propulsion, and three second housings 7 shaped to each receive a tank 4 of fuel.
- Each main propulsion block 3 is arranged at the top of an equilateral triangle 8 shown in phantom.
- the propulsion system thus forms a three-point propulsion system.
- each block 3 of main propulsion comprises two thrusters 30.
- each block 3 of main propulsion may comprise a single thruster 30 or at least at least three thrusters 30.
- the propulsion units 3 may comprise a different number of thrusters.
- the thrusters 30 of a propulsion unit can be of the same type or of different types.
- the thrusters 30 may for example be gas ejection nozzles, or electric or ion thrusters.
- the frame 2 comprises a hexagonal shape with three first sides 22 and three second sides 24, the length of a second side 24 being greater than the length of a first side 22, and each first side 22 being adjacent to two separate second sides 24.
- each first side 22 is separated from the other two first sides 22 by two second sides 24.
- Each main propulsion block 3 is mounted on a first side 22, while each tank 4 extends along a second side 24 between two main propulsion blocks 3, on the one hand, and between a second side 24 and the central housing 5, on the other hand.
- the reservoirs 4 can have any possible shape.
- each block 3 of main propulsion can be mounted on a second side 24, the three blocks 3 of main propulsion being arranged at the top of a triangle whose geometric center of gravity corresponds to the center of gravity of the propulsion system 1 .
- Figure 2 is shown schematically a perspective view of an orbital deployment space module 10 provided with the propulsion system 1 of Figure 1.
- the module 10 comprises an enclosure 11 having a hexagonal shape in the xy plane corresponding to the hexagonal shape of the frame 2 of the propulsion system 1 of FIG.
- the enclosure 11 comprises an upper face 110, a lower face 112, three first side faces 114 and three second side faces 116, the three second side faces being longer than the first three side faces 114.
- the upper face 110 comprises a recess 50 communicating with the central housing 5 of the frame 2 of the propulsion system 1 of FIG.
- each second side face 116 comprises two orifices 118 each located close to a first side face 114.
- the propulsion system 1 further comprises auxiliary thrusters.
- Each auxiliary thruster is mounted on the frame 2 opposite an orifice 118 of the enclosure 11 of the space module 10.
- the auxiliary thrusters allow controlled rotation of the space module 1 around its main axis which is parallel to the third z-direction. This rotation of the space module 1 makes it possible to homogenize the temperature of the space module 1 for orbital deployment.
- the auxiliary thrusters of the same second lateral face are oriented in opposite directions, one being used to initiate a rotation in one direction and the other to initiate a rotation in the opposite direction or to cancel the current rotation .
- the invention thus makes it possible to provide a space module for orbital deployment equipped with a propulsion system whose size and cost, excluding tanks, are reduced, the space gained being able to be intended to increase the capacity of the tanks or housings intended to receive one or more satellites.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Control Of Position, Course, Altitude, Or Attitude Of Moving Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2200279A FR3131907A1 (fr) | 2022-01-14 | 2022-01-14 | Module de déploiement orbital avec un système de propulsion spatial à trois points |
| PCT/FR2023/050028 WO2023135386A1 (fr) | 2022-01-14 | 2023-01-10 | Module de deploiement orbital avec un systeme de propulsion spatial a trois points |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP4463379A1 true EP4463379A1 (fr) | 2024-11-20 |
Family
ID=80999355
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP23703083.8A Pending EP4463379A1 (fr) | 2022-01-14 | 2023-01-10 | Module de deploiement orbital avec un systeme de propulsion spatial a trois points |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US12338004B2 (fr) |
| EP (1) | EP4463379A1 (fr) |
| JP (1) | JP2025503697A (fr) |
| FR (1) | FR3131907A1 (fr) |
| WO (1) | WO2023135386A1 (fr) |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3231223A (en) * | 1962-11-16 | 1966-01-25 | Thiokol Chemical Corp | Flight attitude control system |
| US3295789A (en) * | 1963-11-04 | 1967-01-03 | Charlie R Hill | Airspace craft |
| US20150083865A1 (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2015-03-26 | The Boeing Company | Multiple spacecraft launch system |
| EP2860115A1 (fr) * | 2013-10-11 | 2015-04-15 | Thales Alenia Space Deutschland GmbH | Procédé de modification d'une position d'objets incontrôlés dans l'espace et engin spatial pour réaliser le procédé |
| US20170036782A1 (en) * | 2013-11-19 | 2017-02-09 | Arthur Dula | Launch apparatus |
| US11827385B2 (en) * | 2021-02-03 | 2023-11-28 | The Boeing Company | Direct mount of secondary payload adapters to truss structure common to space vehicle payload adapter |
-
2022
- 2022-01-14 FR FR2200279A patent/FR3131907A1/fr active Pending
-
2023
- 2023-01-10 US US18/728,281 patent/US12338004B2/en active Active
- 2023-01-10 JP JP2024541961A patent/JP2025503697A/ja active Pending
- 2023-01-10 EP EP23703083.8A patent/EP4463379A1/fr active Pending
- 2023-01-10 WO PCT/FR2023/050028 patent/WO2023135386A1/fr not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2023135386A1 (fr) | 2023-07-20 |
| US20250083838A1 (en) | 2025-03-13 |
| JP2025503697A (ja) | 2025-02-04 |
| FR3131907A1 (fr) | 2023-07-21 |
| US12338004B2 (en) | 2025-06-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
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| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
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| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20240711 |
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| DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
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| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
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