Matches 1 - 50 out of 52 1 2 >
Match Document Document Title
7530532 Counterweight based rocket launch platform  
A counterweight based rocket launch platform system and method uses gravity acting upon a counterweight to provide the initial assent for a rocket. This counterweight system is preferably built...
7523892 Centripetal reflex method of space launch  
A method of launching space vehicles by towing them aloft, then twirling them around a large transport aircraft ( 40 ) at the center of a formation (AA) of other tow aircraft ( 28, 34 ) and other...
7258306 Thermal deformation determination for payload pointing using space-based beacon  
A system and associated method for compensating for thermal deformation of a spaced-based structure having a spacecraft payload. The system including a beacon source coupled to a first spacecraft...
7252270 System and method for launching a missile from a flying aircraft  
System for launching a missile from a launch region within the atmosphere of a planet, the missile being located within a flying vehicle before launching the missile, the system including a missile...
7240878 High wing monoplane aerospace plane based fighter  
The Hypersonic Orbital Fighter and the methods of flying it are disclosed. The Hypersonic Orbital Fighter is characterized by a winged, modified lifting body shape with the forward ventral section...
7134630 Thermal deformation determination for payload pointing using space-based beacon  
A system and associated method for compensating for thermal deformation of a spaced-based structure having a spacecraft payload. The system including a beacon source coupled to a first spacecraft...
6974111 Asonic aerospike engine  
A space plane including a main body, an aerospike engine attached to the main body, and a bell-shaped nozzle primary thrust engine attached to the main body.
6398166 Method of controlling acceleration of a spacecraft reentering the atmosphere to accommodate adventure travelers  
A method for controlling the acceleration of a vehicle ( 10 ) reentering the sensible atmosphere, comprising executing a lofting translational rocket burn at an altitude of greater than about 40 km...
6380526 Employing booster trajectory in a payload inertial measurement unit  
A payload launching method measures the attitude of a booster during a launch with an inertial measurement unit on the payload to compare the actual booster trajectory with a desired trajectory to...
6360994 Configurable space launch system  
A configurable space launch system of multiple different vehicle configurations that use a common reusable spaceplane and cost effective external tanks is presented. Each vehicle configuration in...
6360993 Expendable launch vehicle  
A system for supplying a space station or satellite comprises a low cost expendable single-stage to orbit launch vehicle having a moderate reliability in the range of about 0.5 to 0.8 for launching...
6357700 Electrically powered spacecraft/airship  
An spacecraft/airship, which uses buoyancy and thrusters to ascend into space with lifting gas as propellant or fuel for thrusters, which may be conventional thrusters or electric turbojets or ion...
6227486 Propulsion system for earth to orbit vehicle  
A single-stage earth-to-orbit launch vehicle employs a combination of rocket engines and turbojet engines to propel a device into orbit. The vehicle is driven through a unique set of operating...
6193194 Magnetic propulsion system and operating method  
A traveling-field, magnetic propulsion system and operating method is provided for achieving economical space travel. The system is based upon designing the vehicle in the form of a single-stage...
6119983 Airship/spacecraft  
An airship/spacecraft, which, in a preferred embodiment, uses its lifting gas as fuel for thrusters, which may be of the turbo-type or rocket type, or both, to achieve transition to space flight....
6113032 Delivering liquid propellant in a reusable booster stage  
A system is provided for delivering liquid propellant in a booster stage of a launch vehicle. The system includes an arrangement of tanks and valves to direct a first supply of liquid propellant...
6102334 Method and apparatus for determining close approaches for earth-fixed launch trajectories  
Determining suitable launch windows to avoid or minimize close approaches between a launch vehicle and orbiting objects. A method and apparatus is disclosed for minimizing close approaches between...
6059235 Interplanetary transfer method  
A method for increasing the payload that can be delivered by a given launch vehicle to a selected target in an interplanetary space mission, without increasing the transfer time to reach the...
5984235 Integrated launch and spacecraft propulsion system  
A single-stage-to-orbit integrated launch and payload system is provided that includes a support structure, a propulsion system that is supported by the support structure and provides both launch...
5927653 Two-stage reusable earth-to-orbit aerospace vehicle and transport system  
A two-stage wingless reusable aerospace vehicle having upper and lower stages that take off from a take-off area and separate at a separation point along a first trajectory. The separation forces...
5842665 Launch vehicle with engine mounted on a rotor  
A launch vehicle which employs a rotor similar to a helicopter. The vehicle has a four bladed rotor which is mounted on the vehicle body. The body of the vehicle includes propellant tanks and a...
5667167 Methods and apparatus for reusable launch platform and reusable spacecraft  
A reusable single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft and a reusable launch assist platform provide a new system for space transportation. The platform has a frame with a cradle for supporting the...
5568901 Two stage launch vehicle and launch trajectory method  
A method of launching a two stage vehicle and a trajectory for use with a two stage vehicle which allows recovery of both stages at the launch site. This is accomplished by launching the first...
5520356 System for propelling and guiding a solid object with a beam of electromagnetic radiation  
A system for propelling a solid body having a transmit antenna for transmitting electromagnetic energy with a desired frequency and pattern. A solid body having a receiving antenna for receiving...
5402720 Booster-missile self-aligning adapter  
A self-aligning adapter used for attaching a booster to a missile includes a hollow tapered receptacle positioned on the missile. A tapered member sized and shaped to fit into and mate with the...
5397082 Space transport architecture and method for robotic planetary operations  
A space transport architecture (STA) for robotic operations on a planet. The STA comprises and an earth launch vehicle (ELV) (10), adapted to carry a space transfer vehicle (STV) (15) and...
5263666 Spacecraft with increased stationkeeping fuel load  
A spacecraft includes bipropellant and monopropellant engines or thrusters. The oxidizer-fuel mixture ratio of the bipropellant engine is not known exactly. The spacecraft is loaded with only...
5242135 Space transfer vehicle and integrated guidance launch system  
A space launch system and a space transfer vehicle usable within such system. The space transfer vehicle includes a primary propulsion engine and attitude control system. A guidance system for both...
5238209 Arrangement for attach, quick disconnect and jettison of rocket booster from space vehicle core  
An arrangement for attaching, quickly disconnecting and jettisoning a rocket booster from a core space vehicle. The arrangement includes a housing connected to the booster and having a drive means...
5217188 Modular solid-propellant launch vehicle and related launch facility  
A family of modular solid-propellant launch vehicles and a related launch facility for placing a wide range of payloads in earth orbit at greatly reduced costs compared to present day launch...
5217187 Multi-use launch system  
A multi-use launch system comprises a plurality of different modules releasably securable together into a plurality of different possible launch configurations. The modules include an at least...
5203844 Multiple payload/failure mode launch vehicles  
A space launch vehicle having two or more specified benign failure modes and associated payload performances capable of launching two or more payloads to one or more mission orbits. When the...
5190246 Shuttle orbiter with telescoping main propulsion unit and payload  
An improved shuttle with variable internal volume is provided by the present invention. Space shuttle orbiter 10 includes a telescoping main propulsion unit 20. This main propulsion unit 20...
5178347 Process of launching a capsule into space and corresponding launching means  
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for launching a capsule into a lower orbit in conjunction with the launch of a satellite into a higher energy orbit. The capsule is located in the launch vehicle...
5172875 Space launcher and method for launching objects into space  
A space launcher and method for launching satellites and other payloads into space, comprising multi-stage rockets with payload wherein the ratio of the weight of any lower stage rocket to the...
5143328 Launch vehicle with reconfigurable interstage propellant manifolding and solid rocket boosters  
A launch vehicle having one or more high thrust solid propellant boosters and two or more liquid propellant stages all configured to burn in parallel and having an interstage propellant manifolding...
5143327 Integrated launch and emergency vehicle system  
A heavy launch vehicle for placing a payload into a spatial Earth orbit including an expendable, multi-container, propellant tank having a plurality of winged booster propulsion modules releasably...
5131610 Front end structure of a booster rocket mounted on the main body of a launcher  
A front end structure of a booster rocket for a launcher is disclosed. The front end structure comprises a curved support arm mechanically connecting a front fastening device to the front end of...
5117758 Booster rocket range safety system  
In response to an abort command, fragmentation of a propellant booster rot carried on a missile is limited by positioning of annular shaped charges at axially spaced locations on the outer shell of...
5090642 Projectile delivery system  
A first stage earth to low orbit shuttle having mixed-mode propulsion and dual fuel rocket engines. A cargo bay is designed to receive a second stage dart vehicle capable of attaining...
5031857 Two-stage earth-to-orbit transport with translating oblique wings for booster recovery  
A two-stage earth-to-orbit transport includes an orbiter vehicle and a pair of boosters, each having a depolyable oblique wing located along a longitudinal axis of the booster. The wing is deployed...
4964340 Overlapping stage burn for multistage launch vehicles  
The invention relates to a multistage launch vehicle and method of multistage launch vehicle operation in which at least one subsequent motor stage is ignited following lift-off in partially...
4896848 Satelite transfer vehicle  
A transfer vehicle for use in a system for transferring payloads from an earth-launch vehicle in one space trajectory to another space trajectory. The system includes a space launch vehicle (FIG....
4884770 Earth-to-orbit vehicle providing a reusable orbital stage  
A reusable earth-to-orbit vehicle 28 with an orbital stage 10 sized to fit into a payload bay equipped, earth-return-capable space vehicle 26 such as the United States Space Shuttle. The orbital...
4796839 Space launch vehicle  
A rocket launch vehicle comprising a rocket body having a forward section and an aft section, a first rocket engine fixedly mounted to the aft section of the rocket body and axially aligned with...
4795113 Electromagnetic transportation system for manned space travel  
An electromagnetically propelled space transportation system is provided for transporting passengers and/or freight between the Earth's surface and orbiting spaceports via reusable spaceplanes....
4724738 Space entry actuator launch system  
A launching system is provided having a launch cylinder with an open bottom and propulsion means in the form of a rocket motor attached within the cylinder adjacent the top thereof. The cylinder is...
4452412 Space shuttle with rail system and aft thrust structure securing solid rocket boosters to external tank  
A space shuttle system (11) having an orbiter spacecraft (16) with main rocket engines (43) a large external propellant tank (12), and two solid rocket boosters (13,14). The propellant tank (12)...
3929306 Space vehicle system  
A space vehicle system consisting of an orbiter vehicle having an expendable propellant tank attached to the underside surface thereof. An engine module is retractably supported from the aft end of...
3866863 SPACE VEHICLE  
A space vehicle having an improved ascent configuration for use in traveling in space including a winged orbiter having an elongated fuselage and rearwardly directed main engines fixed to the...
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