US 12,129,052 B1
Microgravity in low earth orbit with continuous electric propulsion
David Degenhardt, Kent, WA (US); Kyle Patrick Doyle, Bellevue, WA (US); David Aaron Kornuta, Federal Way, WA (US); and Zachary Reid Tolley, Kent, WA (US)
Assigned to Blue Origin, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed by Blue Origin, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,023.
Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/44 (2006.01); B64G 1/60 (2006.01); B64G 1/64 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/409 (2013.01) [B64G 1/402 (2013.01); B64G 1/443 (2013.01); B64G 1/60 (2013.01); B64G 1/646 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for maintaining a micro-gravity environment in low earth orbit (LEO), the system comprising:
a space vehicle having an internal volume of at least 400 m3 configured to be pressurized for human habitation, a mass of at least 40,000 kg, and configured to travel in LEO along an orbit in a forward direction, wherein a drag force acts on the space vehicle in an aft direction opposite the forward direction when the space vehicle travels in LEO; and
a solar electric propulsion system comprising:
a propellant storage tank configured to hold at least 300 kg of Xenon; and
a plurality of electric propulsion thrusters configured to collectively generate a thrust force in the forward direction continuously for a time period of at least 180 days and with a magnitude substantially equal to the drag force such that the internal volume within the space vehicle maintains over the time period a quasi-steady acceleration less than or equal to 1.0 μg.