Patent ID: 11926442
Assignee: BALL AEROSPACE & TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method, comprising:
placing an instrument in a location in orbit about the Earth or in space to collect data from a selected area;
pointing the instrument in a first direction;
positioning a sunshade at a first location in proximity to the instrument and such that the sunshade blocks at least a portion of the instrument from direct sunlight while the instrument is pointed in the first direction;
pointing the instrument in a second direction;
positioning the sunshade at a second location in proximity to the instrument and such that the sunshade blocks at least a portion of the instrument from direct sunlight while the instrument is pointed in the second direction;
absorbing radiant heat from the sun using the sunshade; and
radiating at least some of the absorbed heat from the sunshade to the instrument, wherein a proximity of the sunshade to the instrument can be varied to maintain the instrument within a range of instrument operating temperatures, wherein the proximity of the sunshade to the instrument is decreased to provide increased radiational heating of the instrument, and wherein the proximity of the sunshade to the instrument is increased to provide decreased radiational heating of the instrument.