US 12,291,355 B2
Space structure control system and space structure control method
Makoto Ito, Tokyo (JP); Tsukasa Funane, Tokyo (JP); Koichi Watanabe, Tokyo (JP); Yosuke Tanabe, Tokyo (JP); and Hisatoshi Kimura, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to HITACHI, LTD., Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/584,242.
Claims priority of application No. 2023-042818 (JP), filed on Mar. 17, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0308697 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 1/24 (2006.01); B64G 1/10 (2006.01); B64G 1/66 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/242 (2013.01) [B64G 1/10 (2013.01); B64G 1/66 (2013.01); H01Q 1/288 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A space structure control system that controls a shape of a space structure to be deployed in space, the space structure control system comprising:
the space structure;
an artificial satellite connected to the space structure; and
a propulsion device installed on the artificial satellite and configured to control an orbit and an attitude of the artificial satellite,
wherein the space structure includes a film-like structure, a solar reflectance control device that controls a spatial pattern of a solar reflectance in a reflecting mirror provided in the film-like structure, and a shape retaining device that is connected to the film-like structure,
the propulsion device rotates the film-like structure to generate a centrifugal force,
the solar reflectance control device controls a solar reflectance in the reflecting mirror to control a solar radiation pressure to be applied to the reflecting mirror,
a three-dimensional shape of the film-like structure is controlled based on the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the film-like structure and the solar radiation pressure, and
the shape of the film-like structure is retained or stabilized by the shape retaining device.