Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Deployable spacecraft body
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Application No.: US16978087Application Date: 2019-03-07
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Publication No.: US11518548B2Publication Date: 2022-12-06
- Inventor: Michael David Lawton , Zhong You , Deborah Fellows
- Applicant: Oxford Space Systems Limited
- Applicant Address: GB Harwell
- Assignee: Oxford Space Systems Limited
- Current Assignee: Oxford Space Systems Limited
- Current Assignee Address: GB Harwell
- Agency: Umberg Zipser LLP
- Agent Ryan Dean
- Priority: GB1803618 20180307
- International Application: PCT/GB2019/050637 WO 20190307
- International Announcement: WO2019/171062 WO 20190912
- Main IPC: B64G1/22
- IPC: B64G1/22 ; B64G1/24 ; B64G1/42 ; B64G1/64 ; B64G1/66

Abstract:
A spacecraft is disclosed, comprising a deployable spacecraft body (110) comprising a plurality of sub-systems (321-324) for controlling operations of the spacecraft, and a plurality of panels (101, 102) and a plurality of hinges (112-115) each connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of panels, the hinges being arranged to permit the plurality of panels to be folded into a stowed configuration and unfolded into a deployed configuration, wherein the plurality of sub-systems are fixed to and supported by one or more of the plurality of panels. By forming the body of the spacecraft from a deployable structure, the overall size of the spacecraft can be significantly reduced in the stowed configuration. In some embodiments, a plurality of the spacecraft in the stowed configuration can be combined into a modular spacecraft assembly prior to launch, with data and power connections between the plurality of stowed spacecraft being used to transfer power from, and data to, a payload monitoring unit on the launch vehicle.
Public/Granted literature
- US20210061496A1 Deployable Spacecraft Body Public/Granted day:2021-03-04
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