Abstract

A spacecraft radiation shield system (2) is disclosed for improving the protection from ionising radiation from the external environment and providing an improved freedom of orientation to the spacecraft. The spacecraft radiation shield system includes: at least two magnets arranged in a magnetic multipole (6), a magnetometer (14), and an adjustable magnet (10). The magnetometer (14) is configured to measure the magnetic field experienced at the spacecraft, and the magnetic field orientation of the adjustable magnet (10) is controlled in response to the measured magnetic field thereby controlling the direction and magnitude of the overall dipole moment of the system

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/54 - Protection against radiation
• H01F 7/02 - Permanent magnets

Abstract

A : spacecraft attitude control system comprising • at least one attitude control device (2), the attitude control device comprising • first and second magnets (3, 4) having magnetic dipole moments Ml and M2 respectively, each magnet (3, 4) comprising a north pole face and a south pole face; • the magnets (3, 4) being spaced apart along a length axis by a gap, • for each magnet the pole face closest to the other magnet being termed the closest face, the magnets being arranged with the closest faces being of the same pole; • the first magnet 3 being connected to a rotation mechanism (7), the rotation mechanism being adapted to rotate the first magnet about first and second axes (8, 9), none of the first axis (8), second axis (9) and magnetic dipole moment Ml, M2 of the first magnet (3) being parallel to the other.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/32 - Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control using earth's magnetic field
• B64G 1/24 - Guiding or controlling apparatus, e.g. for attitude control
• B64G 1/54 - Protection against radiation

Abstract

A spacecraft radiation shield system (2) is disclosed for improving the protection from ionising radiation from the external environment and providing an improved freedom of orientation to the spacecraft. The spacecraft radiation shield system includes: at least two magnets arranged in a magnetic multipole (6), a magnetometer (14), and an adjustable magnet (10). The magnetometer (14) is configured to measure the magnetic field experienced at the spacecraft, and the magnetic field orientation of the adjustable magnet (10) is controlled in response to the measured magnetic field thereby controlling the direction and magnitude of the overall dipole moment of the system.

IPC Classes  ?

• B64G 1/54 - Protection against radiation