{
  "patent_number": "US 11753188",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Satellites Use Split Thrusters to Reach Orbit Faster",
  "original_title": "Optimized power balanced low thrust transfer orbits utilizing split thruster execution",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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.",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-07-31",
  "granted": "2023-09-12",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Boeing Co",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/boeing-co",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Jeffrey Scott Noel",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jeffrey-scott-noel"
    },
    {
      "name": "Andrew Henry Giacobe",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/andrew-henry-giacobe"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "aerospace",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "A method for providing optimized power balanced low thrust transfer orbits utilizing split thruster execution to minimize an electric orbit raising duration of an apparatus includes monitoring an electric power balance on the apparatus. The method also includes firing a first thruster in response to the apparatus exiting an eclipse and based on the electric power balance. The method additionally includes firing a second thruster at a predetermined time delay after firing the first thruster based on the electric power balance. The method additionally includes ending firing one of the first thruster or the second thruster after a predetermined time duration based on the electric power balance. The method further includes ending firing another of the first thruster or the second thruster in response to the apparatus entering a next eclipse.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11753188/direct-to-cell-starlink",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11753188/direct-to-cell-starlink/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11753188",
  "relatedPatents": []
}