Observation space vehicle having a laser-based measurement system
First Claim
1. An observation space vehicle for quantitatively evaluating, a fluid mass above a surface of a planet while said observation space vehicle orbits said planet along an orbital path, said observation space vehicle comprising:
- a platform having a roll axis which is substantially parallel to said orbital path and a yaw axis which approximately intersects the center of said planet, said platform having a forward end and a rearward end relative to a direction of travel of said observation space vehicle along said orbital path;
means supported by said platform for generating a laser beam;
first and second telescopes supported by said platform;
first sight means operatively associated with said first telescope for relaying said laser beam toward said planet along a first sight axis and for receiving a first reflected laser beam along said first sight axis, said first sight axis being oriented in a first direction toward said forward end of said platform such that said first telescope is a forward scanning telescope;
first means supported by said platform for pivoting said first sight means about an axis which is substantially parallel to said roll axis;
second sight means operatively associated with said second telescope for relaying said laser beam toward said planet along a second sight axis and for receiving a second reflected laser beam along said second sight axis, said second sight axis being oriented in a second direction toward said rearward end of said platform such that said second telescope is a rearward scanning telescope;
second means supported by said platform for pivoting said second sight means about an axis substantially parallel to said roll axis; and
means operatively associated with said first and second sight means for measuring and evaluating a frequency of said first and second reflected laser beams.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An observation spacecraft designed for the quantitative evaluation of the activity within a fluid mass borne by a planet embodying a platform adapted to follow an orbit around the planet and including a roll axis designed to be parallel with that orbit and a yaw axis designed to be oriented toward the center of the planet, and an observation assembly composed of a laser generator, a frequency measuring unit, and first and second telescopes, respectively equipped with a sight element having a sight axis designed to be orientated toward the planet; the telescopes are designed to send, from the laser generator, beams that are transmitted from along the sight axes, and to receive, along these axes, reflected beams which they then apply to the frequency measuring unit. The first and second sight elements are connected with the platform by means of rotary motors whose axes are parallel with the roll axis, the first and second sight axes projecting themselves in opposite directions along the roll axis.
32 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An observation space vehicle for quantitatively evaluating, a fluid mass above a surface of a planet while said observation space vehicle orbits said planet along an orbital path, said observation space vehicle comprising:
-
a platform having a roll axis which is substantially parallel to said orbital path and a yaw axis which approximately intersects the center of said planet, said platform having a forward end and a rearward end relative to a direction of travel of said observation space vehicle along said orbital path; means supported by said platform for generating a laser beam; first and second telescopes supported by said platform; first sight means operatively associated with said first telescope for relaying said laser beam toward said planet along a first sight axis and for receiving a first reflected laser beam along said first sight axis, said first sight axis being oriented in a first direction toward said forward end of said platform such that said first telescope is a forward scanning telescope; first means supported by said platform for pivoting said first sight means about an axis which is substantially parallel to said roll axis; second sight means operatively associated with said second telescope for relaying said laser beam toward said planet along a second sight axis and for receiving a second reflected laser beam along said second sight axis, said second sight axis being oriented in a second direction toward said rearward end of said platform such that said second telescope is a rearward scanning telescope; second means supported by said platform for pivoting said second sight means about an axis substantially parallel to said roll axis; and means operatively associated with said first and second sight means for measuring and evaluating a frequency of said first and second reflected laser beams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A laser observation device for quantitatively evaluating, a fluid mass above a surface of a planet while said laser observation device is transported by a vehicle which is moving along a path above said surface, said laser observation device comprising:
-
a platform having a roll axis which is substantially parallel to said path, said platform having a forward end and a rearward end relative to a direction of travel of said vehicle along said path; means supported by said platform for generating a laser beam; first and second telescopes supported by said platform; first sight means operatively associated with said first telescope for relaying said laser beam toward said planet along a first sight axis and for receiving a first reflected laser beam along said first sight axis, said first sight axis being oriented in a first direction toward said forward end of said platform such that said first telescope is a forward scanning telescope; first means supported by said platform for pivoting said first sight means about an axis which is substantially parallel to said roll axis; second sight means operatively associated with said second telescope for relaying said laser beam toward said planet along a second sight axis and for receiving a second reflected laser beam along said second sight axis, said second sight axis being oriented in a second direction toward said rearward end of said platform such that said second telescope is a rearward scanning telescope; second means supported by said platform for pivoting said second sight means about an axis substantially parallel to said roll axis; and means operatively associated with said first and second sight means for measuring and evaluating a frequency of said first and second reflected laser beams. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification