James Carter Small

US Patent:

20200290755, Sep 17, 2020

Filed:

Jan 27, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/773920

Inventors:

- Santa Clara CA, US
Joel Sercel - Santa Clara CA, US
Mikhail Kokorich - Santa Clara CA, US
James Small - Santa Clara CA, US
Nicholas Simon - Santa Clara CA, US
Nathan Orr - Santa Clara CA, US
Samuel Avery - Santa Clara CA, US
Scott Stanley - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

B64G 1/40
B64G 1/54

Abstract:

A method in a spacecraft for transporting propellant to be consumed by a thruster includes storing the propellant in the spacecraft in a solid state during at least a portion of a take-off procedure and supplying the propellant to the thruster in a liquid or vaporous state when the spacecraft is in space.

US Patent:

20200294772, Sep 17, 2020

Filed:

Jan 27, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/773908

Inventors:

- Santa Clara CA, US
Joel Sercel - Santa Clara CA, US
Philip Mainwaring - Santa Clara CA, US
James Small - Santa Clara CA, US
Matthew Parman - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

H01J 37/32
B64G 1/40
F03H 1/00

Abstract:

A thruster system for use in a spacecraft includes a microwave source, a resonant cavity coupled to the microwave source, wherein the microwave source is configured to generate a standing wave field in the resonant cavity, a nozzle provided at one end of the resonant cavity; and at least one injector configured to inject propellant into the resonant cavity so as to create a rotating circumferential flow. The standing wave field raises a temperature of the injected propellant to provide thrust by way of a hot gas exiting the resonant cavity via the nozzle.

US Patent:

20200283174, Sep 10, 2020

Filed:

Jan 27, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/773901

Inventors:

- Santa Clara CA, US
Joel Sercel - Santa Clara CA, US
Aaron Mitchell - Santa Clara CA, US
Gedi Minster - Santa Clara CA, US
Yuqi Wang - Santa Clara CA, US
Lee Wilson - Santa Clara CA, US
James Small - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

B64G 1/40
F17C 7/04
F02K 9/56

Abstract:

To manage propellant in a spacecraft, the method of this disclosure includes storing propellant in a tank as a mixture of liquid and gas; transferring the propellant out of the tank; converting the mixture of liquid and gas propellant into a single phase, where the single phase is either liquid or gaseous; and supplying the single phase of the propellant to a thruster.