METHOD OF CONTROL OF POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS OF ORBITAL SPACECRAFT CLUSTER EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC JET ENGINES Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC B64G1/42 B64G1/10 

FIELD: power supply systems for high-orbit and geostationary orbit communication satellites whose orbits are corrected by means of electric jet engines.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method consists in determination of power requirements for each items of onboard using equipment for all spacecraft of cluster, electric jet engines inclusive. In case some items of onboard using equipment are not provided with electric energy at interval of dynamic mode with the aid of electric jet engines, this mode is changed-over for another permissible interval. In case of absence of permissible intervals, duplicate spacecraft of equivalent payload are selected. Items of equivalent using equipment of main spacecraft which are not provided with electric power are changed-over to duplicate spacecraft which are provided with required electric power. Spacecraft equipment items are changed-over till restoration of power supply on board main spacecraft (upon completion of dynamic modes of these spacecraft). Then control of power supply is performed for spacecraft of orbital cluster of later performance of dynamic modes. Main spacecraft are used as duplicate spacecraft.

EFFECT: reduced power requirements of cluster spacecraft; possibility of supplying power for additional items of using equipment.

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