Combined space vehicle fuel cell and space station structural building component
First Claim
1. In a space shuttle having an orbiter spacecraft with main rocket engines, an external tank for propellants to which the orbiter spacecraft is mounted on one side, and a pair of solid rocket boosters mounted on opposed sides of the external tank, the improvement comprising:
- the external tank having a first pressure vessel means for containing a first propellant and a second pressure vessel means for containing a second propellant;
the first pressure vessel means being contained within the second pressure vessel means;
a payload compartment disposed in tandem with the first pressure vessel means, the payload compartment being contained within the second pressure vessel means;
the solid rocket boosters being connected to the external tank and adapted to apply thrust generated by the rocket boosters to an aft end of the external tank; and
the orbiter spacecraft being connected to the external tank so as to apply thrust generated by the main rocket engines to the aft of the external tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combined space vehicle fuel cell and modular space station structural building component which provides containment of propellants during launch and thereafter provides one of a plurality of modules which can be interconnected once orbit is achieved for constructing a space station or space platform. The combined space vehicle fuel cell and modular space station structural building component is configured so that a first pressure vessel for containment of one propellant is preferably concentrically positioned within a second pressure vessel for another propellant, which can result in a shorter fuel cell. Intervessel structure is included for interconnecting the pressure vessels but is lightweight due to the concentric configuration of the pressure vessels and is preferably concentrated in the aft end of the fuel cell for providing a rigid structure for receiving thrust through any and all thrust attaches to a spacecraft. The fuel cell configuration results in a lower center of gravity, which enables more vertically oriented thrust to be applied to the space vehicle. Docking structure is incorporated into the combined space vehicle fuel cell and modular space station structural building component for connection with other similar fuel cells after orbit is achieved for constructing a space station or space platform. Preferably, equipment which is not susceptible to damage through contact with the one propellant is pre-installed on the earth to alleviate the need to install such equipment after orbit is achieved, which results in a reduction in the payload requirements for space station construction. The fuel cell can also include a storage compartment for payload.
42 Citations
43 Claims
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1. In a space shuttle having an orbiter spacecraft with main rocket engines, an external tank for propellants to which the orbiter spacecraft is mounted on one side, and a pair of solid rocket boosters mounted on opposed sides of the external tank, the improvement comprising:
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the external tank having a first pressure vessel means for containing a first propellant and a second pressure vessel means for containing a second propellant; the first pressure vessel means being contained within the second pressure vessel means; a payload compartment disposed in tandem with the first pressure vessel means, the payload compartment being contained within the second pressure vessel means; the solid rocket boosters being connected to the external tank and adapted to apply thrust generated by the rocket boosters to an aft end of the external tank; and the orbiter spacecraft being connected to the external tank so as to apply thrust generated by the main rocket engines to the aft of the external tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 33)
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24. A modular space station structural building component, comprising:
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a fuel cell having a first pressure vessel means for containing one propellant, a payload compartment connected in tandem with the first pressure vessel means, and a second pressure vessel means for containing another propellant; the first pressure vessel means and payload compartment both being contained within the second pressure vessel means; and docking means for interconnecting the fuel cell to a preselected structure in orbit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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34. A combined space vehicle fuel cell and modular space station structural building component, comprising:
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an external tank, comprising; a first pressure vessel means for containing one propellant during launch of a space vehicle; and a second pressure vessel means surrounding the first pressure vessel means so as to define an interstitial region between the interior of the second pressure vessel means and the exterior of the first pressure vessel means for containing a second propellant; a payload compartment disposed in tandem with the first pressure vessel means, the payload compartment being contained within the second pressure vessel means; the external tank being adapted for interconnection with similarly configured external tanks; and docketing means for interconnecting at least two external tanks. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification