This patent presents an attitude determination and control system based on a Quaternion Kalman Filter (QKF) with an extendable number of sensors and actuators. Furthermore, it is compatible with the spherical motor as its attitude actuator. The system includes a processor with a QKF, at least one direct attitude actuator, and at least two environmental sensors. Firstly, system dynamics calculates a first propagation attitude determination result. Next, update the first propagation with the attitude sensor measurements. Then, control the satellite's attitude via the attitude actuator closer to the attitude command provided by the user. The proposed system dynamic model could adjust the number of actuators and sensors freely without reprogramming the algorithms for new missions with new configurations on the actuators and sensors. Moreover, if some components fail, the algorithm can automatically remove those related sequences to avoid the overall failure of the system.

This patent presents an attitude determination and control system based on a Quaternion Kalman Filter (QKF) with an extendable number of sensors and actuators. Furthermore, it is compatible with the spherical motor as its attitude actuator. The system includes a processor with a QKF, at least one direct attitude actuator, and at least two environmental sensors. Firstly, system dynamics calculates a first propagation attitude determination result. Next, update the first propagation with the attitude sensor measurements. Then, control the satellite's attitude via the attitude actuator closer to the attitude command provided by the user. The proposed system dynamic model could adjust the number of actuators and sensors freely without reprogramming the algorithms for new missions with new configurations on the actuators and sensors. Moreover, if some components fail, the algorithm can automatically remove those related sequences to avoid the overall failure of the system.

An autonomous spacecraft propellant-gauging system, the system including a propellant tank, one or more heating devices, at least one temperature sensor and a processor. The heating devices are used to heat up the propellant tank, and the temperature sensors sense the temperature of the propellant content of the propellant tank. The processor controls operations of the heating devices and the temperature sensor. The processor further executes an algorithm to automate gauging of the propellant content of the propellant tank based on a reduced order model (ROM) and a number of parameters, and reports out an estimate of the mass of the remaining propellant of the propellant tank.

An autonomous spacecraft propellant-gauging system, the system including a propellant tank, one or more heating devices, at least one temperature sensor and a processor. The heating devices are used to heat up the propellant tank, and the temperature sensors sense the temperature of the propellant content of the propellant tank. The processor controls operations of the heating devices and the temperature sensor. The processor further executes an algorithm to automate gauging of the propellant content of the propellant tank based on a reduced order model (ROM) and a number of parameters, and reports out an estimate of the mass of the remaining propellant of the propellant tank.

A suspending release device for observing a drop vibration attitude change of a lander and a test method are provided. The device includes a bench system, a lifting system fixed to the bench system, a horizontal frame system, an attitude control system, and a suspending release system hinged to the attitude control system. The horizontal frame system may slide vertically on the bench system and may drive the attitude control system to slide horizontally. A test lander is fixed to a release sliding block. The release sliding block is locked with a main load bearing block. An attitude of the test lander when releasing is adjusted. The horizontal frame system is lifted to a predetermined height. Guide rods are indirectly driven to release the sliding block by a motor. The whole lander falls freely and touches the ground to collide, and the process is recorded by a high-speed camera.

A suspending release device for observing a drop vibration attitude change of a lander and a test method are provided. The device includes a bench system, a lifting system fixed to the bench system, a horizontal frame system, an attitude control system, and a suspending release system hinged to the attitude control system. The horizontal frame system may slide vertically on the bench system and may drive the attitude control system to slide horizontally. A test lander is fixed to a release sliding block. The release sliding block is locked with a main load bearing block. An attitude of the test lander when releasing is adjusted. The horizontal frame system is lifted to a predetermined height. Guide rods are indirectly driven to release the sliding block by a motor. The whole lander falls freely and touches the ground to collide, and the process is recorded by a high-speed camera.

The present invention provides an innovative apparatus and method for onboard spacecraft location determination and navigation by employing observations of extrasolar planetary star systems. In one apparatus embodiment a gas absorption cell is placed between a sensor and the light from a reference star system with at least one exoplanet, such that the sensor can detect the spectrum through the gas absorption cell. Radial velocities can be calculated via Doppler Spectroscopy techniques and incorporated into a spacecraft navigation solution. Additional embodiments incorporate other spacecraft sensor or system data to derive a filtered navigation solution. The present invention can enable and enhance significant mission capabilities for future manned and unmanned space vehicles and missions.

The present invention provides an innovative apparatus and method for onboard spacecraft location determination and navigation by employing observations of extrasolar planetary star systems. In one apparatus embodiment a gas absorption cell is placed between a sensor and the light from a reference star system with at least one exoplanet, such that the sensor can detect the spectrum through the gas absorption cell. Radial velocities can be calculated via Doppler Spectroscopy techniques and incorporated into a spacecraft navigation solution. Additional embodiments incorporate other spacecraft sensor or system data to derive a filtered navigation solution. The present invention can enable and enhance significant mission capabilities for future manned and unmanned space vehicles and missions.

A method for capturing and deorbiting space debris includes: providing a space debris capturing device; deploying the space debris capturing device in planetary orbit; determining, via an onboard global positioning system unit, the position and orbit velocity of the space debris capturing device; receiving an initial target set including a first database of space debris targets that are within range of the space debris capturing device; performing a first algorithm to convert the initial target set to an accessible target set including a second database of space debris targets that are within range of the space debris capturing device, the second database is smaller than the first database; performing a second algorithm to convert the accessible target set to a final target set including a third database of space debris targets to be captured by the space debris capturing device, the third database is smaller than the second database; transferring the space debris capturing device to a position within a capture range of a first space debris target of the third database; capturing the first space debris target via a capture mechanism of the space debris capturing device; jettisoning the capture mechanism and the first captured space debris target into a decaying orbit; repeating the transferring, capturing, and jettisoning steps for all but a final one of the remaining space debris targets of the third database; and positioning the space debris capturing device and the final captured space debris target into a decaying orbit.

A method for capturing and deorbiting space debris includes: providing a space debris capturing device; deploying the space debris capturing device in planetary orbit; determining, via an onboard global positioning system unit, the position and orbit velocity of the space debris capturing device; receiving an initial target set including a first database of space debris targets that are within range of the space debris capturing device; performing a first algorithm to convert the initial target set to an accessible target set including a second database of space debris targets that are within range of the space debris capturing device, the second database is smaller than the first database; performing a second algorithm to convert the accessible target set to a final target set including a third database of space debris targets to be captured by the space debris capturing device, the third database is smaller than the second database; transferring the space debris capturing device to a position within a capture range of a first space debris target of the third database; capturing the first space debris target via a capture mechanism of the space debris capturing device; jettisoning the capture mechanism and the first captured space debris target into a decaying orbit; repeating the transferring, capturing, and jettisoning steps for all but a final one of the remaining space debris targets of the third database; and positioning the space debris capturing device and the final captured space debris target into a decaying orbit.