A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system actuates the crewmember's safety jetpack to follow the prescribed trajectory to the fixed location.

A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system provides a directional cue (e.g., a visual, auditory, or tactile cue) to a crewmember corresponding to the prescribed trajectory back to the fixed location. The system may be activated by the crewmember or remotely by another crewmember and/or system.

A dipole cancellation system and method may include a plurality of magnetometers for measuring a device magnetic field associated with a plurality of device coils generating a device magnetic field having a primary magnetic dipole moment. A compensating coil carrying a compensating current running a first direction that generates a compensating magnetic field having a compensating magnetic dipole moment. The compensating coil may be positioned and the first current may be selected so that the compensating magnetic dipole moment completely cancels the primary magnetic dipole moment. A method may use the system to stabilize a spacecraft by calculating an estimated torque of the spacecraft, receiving a value for an external magnetic field, receiving a value for a device magnetic field, and calculating and applying a compensating current may be then applied to the compensating coil to cancel the primary magnetic dipole moment, wherein the spacecraft is stabilized.

The present invention relates to a light baffle assembly including a base baffle member comprising a base wall portion positioned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis, an upper baffle member comprising an upper wall portion coupled to an upper blade portion, the upper wall portion positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the upper blade portion positioned to extend inwards from the upper wall portion towards the longitudinal axis, and a resilient member configured to extend the upper baffle member away from the base baffle member.

A satellite propelled by laser ablation comprises: a device for managing the attitude and the orbit of the satellite; a device for capturing and potentially for processing the target spaceborne body; a device for external communication; a laser ablation propulsion device comprising one or more lasers and a module for managing the one or more lasers that is suitable for determining the one or more laser beams to be generated on the captured target spaceborne body according to the movement desired for the satellite; and a device for visually inspecting the target spaceborne body.

A system and method for assisted EVA self-return is provided herein. The system estimates a crewmember's navigation state relative to a fixed location, for example on an accompanying orbiting spacecraft, and computes a guidance trajectory for returning the crewmember to that fixed location. The system may account for safety and clearance requirements while computing the guidance trajectory. According to at least one embodiment, the system actuates the crewmember's safety jetpack to follow the prescribed trajectory to the fixed location. In another embodiment, the system provides the crewmember with a directional cue (e.g., a visual, auditory, or tactile cue) corresponding to the prescribed trajectory back to the fixed location. The system may be activated by the crewmember or remotely by another crewmember and/or system.

Apparatus and methods for controlling a spacecraft for a transfer orbit. The spacecraft includes a momentum subsystem that stores angular momentum relative to a center of mass of the spacecraft, and a propulsion subsystem that includes electric thrusters. A controller identifies a target spin axis for the spacecraft, determines gimbal angles for electric thruster(s) that so that thrust forces from the electric thrusters are parallel to the target spin axis, and initiates a burn of the electric thruster(s) at the gimbal angles. The controller controls the momentum subsystem to compensate for a thruster torque produced by the burn of the electric thrusters. The momentum subsystem is able to produce a target angular momentum about the center of mass, where a coupling between the target angular momentum and an angular velocity of the spacecraft creates an offset torque to counteract the thruster torque.

Disclosed is a single star-based orientation method using a dual-axis level sensor, which includes a calibration process and an actual calculation process.

A control system for a satellite comprises a power source and control system, a propulsion system having individually selectable solid fuel motors, a communication interface and an attitude determination and control system (ADCS). The ADCS receives power from the power source and control system and further receives desired orbital or positional instructions via the communication interface. Based on the desired orbital or position instructions, the ADCS generates and provides commands to the propulsion system. In turn, the propulsion system selects and fires one or more motors of the individually selectable solid fuel motors responsive to the commands received from the ADCS. A satellite may comprise the disclosed satellite control system as well as attitude control components and/or sensor components operatively connected to the satellite control system.

Systems and methods can support a plasma propulsion system. The system may include a thrust head comprising a plasma generator and a thrust generator. A propellant handling assembly may be directly coupled to the thrust head. The propellant handling assembly may comprise a manifold and a plurality of valves. A propellant storage vessel may be directly coupled to the propellant handling assembly. A propulsion control module may be operable to receive inputs associated with the plasma propulsion system, generate control outputs associated with the plasma propulsion system, establish and train models relating the inputs and the control outputs, apply the inputs to the models to update the output parameters, and apply the output parameters to control the plasma propulsion system.