Louis J Gomberg

US Patent:

54132932, May 9, 1995

Filed:

Dec 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/995114

Inventors:

Louis Gomberg - Redondo Beach CA
Shibu Basuthakur - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Joseph H. Hayden - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

B64G 100

US Classification:

244166

Abstract:

A magnetic torquing system for a spacecraft using conducting coils is disclosed. In one embodiment, the conductors (44, 46) on a spacecraft's (10) solar wing (28, 30) which connect the solar cell strings (38) to the voltage controller (48) are wired to produce a magnetic torque which can be regulated by shunting individual strings to ground (52) or by opening a string circuit. This embodiment does not require the extra weight of a coil because the panel's solar string produces the torque normally produced by an additional coil. In another embodiment, a coil (44, 46)is wired between a shunting switch (54) in the spacecraft voltage controller (48) and a ground (32) so that shunting a string to ground (52) supplies current first to the coil to generate a magnetic torque in the desired direction.