Determining liquid fill fraction on a spacecraft

U.S. Patent Number: 5383359

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining the fill fraction of a liquid in a spacecraft in weightless space is disclosed. A small motion is introduced about the center of mass of the spacecraft undergoing steady spin and/or thrust, and resulting spacecraft oscillations are sensed. The measured frequency, amplitude and phase of the spacecraft oscillations are compared with counterpart values predicted for possible liquid quantities by a nonempirically computed model of spacecraft dynamics.

Inventors: Challoner; A. Dorian (Manhattan Beach, CA), Or; Arthur C. (Los Angeles, CA)

Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Los Angeles, CA)

Application Number: 07/984,146

Issued: 1995-01-24

Expired: 2007-01-24

Classes: 73/290R ; 340/870.16; 702/55

Field of search: 73/29R,291 364/509,564 340/870.16,618

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