How Satellites Use Split Thrusters to Reach Orbit Faster
A method for satellites with electric engines to manage their power usage by staggering when they fire thrusters, allowing them to reach their final orbit more quickly.
Original patent title: “Optimized power balanced low thrust transfer orbits utilizing split thruster execution”
A method for satellites with electric engines to manage their power usage by staggering when they fire thrusters, allowing them to reach their final orbit more quickly. Granted to Boeing Co in 2023 with 22 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way to manage the limited electricity available to a satellite using electric propulsion. When a satellite emerges from the Earth's shadow (an eclipse), its solar arrays begin generating power. Instead of turning on all thrusters at once, which might drain the batteries or exceed the power budget, the system staggers the start times of different thrusters. By firing a second thruster after a calculated delay, the satellite balances the power needed for propulsion against the power required to recharge its batteries. This ensures the satellite maximizes its thrust time during the sunlight portion of its orbit, ultimately shortening the time it takes to reach its final destination.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover chemical propulsion systems that do not rely on solar-powered electric thrusters.
- Does not cover satellites that do not use batteries to store power for use during eclipse periods.
- Does not cover thruster firing sequences that are not based on an electric power balance calculation.
- Does not cover systems that fire all thrusters simultaneously regardless of power availability.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the 'split thruster execution'—by intentionally delaying the second thruster, the system prevents a massive initial power spike, allowing the satellite to maintain a higher average thrust level throughout the entire sunlight portion of the orbit.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Boeing 702 satellite bus series
Electric propulsion satellites in Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Electric orbit raising is a slow process that can take months. Every day spent moving to a final orbit is a day the satellite is not earning revenue for its operator. By optimizing the power cycle, Boeing's method allows satellites to reach their operational slots faster, which is critical for commercial telecommunications and military satellite constellations.
Filed
July 31, 2019
Granted
September 12, 2023
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Boeing remains the primary entity utilizing this specific approach for their satellite product lines. Other major satellite manufacturers like Northrop Grumman and Maxar also employ sophisticated power management algorithms for electric orbit raising, though their specific implementations may differ.
Market impact
This patent reinforces the trend toward all-electric propulsion in the satellite industry, which replaces heavy chemical fuel with lighter electric systems. By reducing the time required for orbit raising, it helps make electric propulsion more commercially viable for high-value communication satellites.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way to manage the limited electricity available to a satellite using electric propulsion. When a satellite emerges from the Earth's shadow (an eclipse), its solar arrays begin generating power. Instead of turning on all thrusters at once, which might drain the batteries or exceed the power budget, the system staggers the start times of different thrusters. By firing a second thruster after a calculated delay, the satellite balances the power needed for propulsion against the power required to recharge its batteries. This ensures the satellite maximizes its thrust time during the sunlight portion of its orbit, ultimately shortening the time it takes to reach its final destination.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the 'split thruster execution'—by intentionally delaying the second thruster, the system prevents a massive initial power spike, allowing the satellite to maintain a higher average thrust level throughout the entire sunlight portion of the orbit.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover chemical propulsion systems that do not rely on solar-powered electric thrusters.
- Does not cover satellites that do not use batteries to store power for use during eclipse periods.
- Does not cover thruster firing sequences that are not based on an electric power balance calculation.
- Does not cover systems that fire all thrusters simultaneously regardless of power availability.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 13.1 yr remaining · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Noel, J. S., & Giacobe, A. H. (2023). How Satellites Use Split Thrusters to Reach Orbit Faster (U.S. Patent No. 11,753,188). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11753188/direct-to-cell-starlink
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Satellites Use Split Thrusters to Reach Orbit Faster cover?
A method for satellites with electric engines to manage their power usage by staggering when they fire thrusters, allowing them to reach their final orbit more quickly.
Who owns patent US 11753188?
Boeing Co owns this patent, granted in 2023.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 12, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Electric orbit raising is a slow process that can take months. Every day spent moving to a final orbit is a day the satellite is not earning revenue for its operator. By optimizing the power cycle, Boeing's method allows satellites to reach their operational slots faster, which is critical for commercial telecommunications and military satellite constellations.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover chemical propulsion systems that do not rely on solar-powered electric thrusters.
Same assignee
More from Boeing Co
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