US 12,263,962 B2
Momentum wheels and reaction wheels for objects in space
Darko Filipi, Washington, DC (US); Abel Avellan, Coral Gables, FL (US); William E. Bialke, Trumansburg, NY (US); Daniele Addari, London (GB); Darren J. Zanon, Falls Church, VA (US); Adam H. Halperin, Silver Spring, MD (US); and Huiwen Yao, Potomac, MD (US)
Assigned to AST & Science, LLC, Midland, TX (US)
Filed by AST & Science, LLC, Midland, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/449,514.
Application 18/449,514 is a continuation of application No. 17/696,506, filed on Mar. 16, 2022, granted, now 11,738,888.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/161,677, filed on Mar. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0150046 A1, May 9, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64G 1/28 (2006.01); B64G 1/24 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/283 (2013.01) [B64G 1/244 (2019.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spacecraft comprising:
an antenna element;
one or more wheels each configured to provide torque to the antenna element, wherein each wheel of the one or more wheels is aligned with at least two planes of a three-dimensional plane relative to the spacecraft; and
one or more processors configured to control operating modes of the one or more wheels by changing windings of the one or more wheels, wherein the operating modes comprise a first operating mode that provides a first amount of torque to the antenna element and a second operating mode that provides a second amount of torque to the antenna element greater than the first amount of torque.