ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 23 -- United States Patent no. 12,420,957, issued on Sept. 23, was assigned to Lockheed Martin Corp. (Bethesda, Md.).
"Starshade" was invented by George Richard Rossi (East Palo Alto, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A starshade is provided that includes a circular base and opaque petals pivotably coupled to a perimeter of the circular base. The opaque petals are configured to pivot radially outward from a center axis of the circular base, wherein each of the opaque petals overlaps at least a portion of an adjacent opaque petal, and wherein each of the opaque petals tapers outward through a proximal section of the opaque petal and tapers inward through a distal sec...