Space vehicle and method

• US 5,678,784 A
• Filed: 01/10/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vanguard Research, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vanguard Research, Incorporated
• Inventors: Marshall, Preston F. Jr., Chaskin, Mel
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US08/391,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 244/2, 244/900, 244/901, 244/158 R, 244/63, 244/160, 244/13, 244/49, 244/161
• US Class Current: 244/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/002 Launch systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/005 Air launch
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/14 Space shuttles reusable launch rockets B64G1/006
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/62 Systems for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere; Retarding or landing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/641 Interstage or payload connectors docking systems B64G1/646

Abstract

A space vehicle has two stages: one containing an air motor; the other containing a rocket propellent motor. After the space vehicle has been launched, flexible wings such as parafoils can be used to recover stages of the space vehicle. In addition, flexible wings such as a parafoil can be used to aid in the delivery payload in the second stage into its orbital state.

Claims

1. A space launch system for placing a payload into earth orbit comprising:

a space vehicle;

flexible lifting wing surface means for achieving orbital altitudes of said space vehicle; and

means for directly connecting said space vehicle and only said flexible lifting wing surface means in spaced relationship to each other so that the flexible lifting wing surface means and said space vehicle can move independently and relative to each other.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said flexible lifting wing surface means consists essentially of a parafoil and said means for directly connecting includes cables.

3. The system of claim 2, further including automatic means for controlling the parafoil to achieve stability in flight.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said automatic means includes sensors and computing means.

5. A method of launching a payload into an orbital flight by using a space vehicle comprising the steps of:

(a) launching the space vehicle with the aid of an air engine to a first stage of flight;

(b) continuing the flight of the space vehicle with the use of a rocket propellent motor which is started after the start of the air engine; and

(c) actuating a parafoil connected to the space vehicle during step (b) so that the space vehicle and the parafoil can move independently and relative to each other in flight.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the step of:

disconnecting the air engine from the space vehicle to allow it to drop away.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of:

recovering the air engine with the use of a second parafoil.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the parafoil is jettisoned or disabled before orbit is achieved.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the space vehicle and payload are placed in orbit.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the payload is detached from the space vehicle and placed in orbit;

and

the space vehicle does not orbit.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the payload is released in orbit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the space vehicle is recovered by the use of a parafoil.

13. A method of launching a payload into an orbital flight by using a space vehicle combined with a parafoil comprising the steps of:

(a) launching the space vehicle with the aid of an air engine to a first stage of flight;

(b) continuing the flight of the space vehicle with the use of a rocket propellent motor which is started after the start of the air engine,

(c) actuating for use a parafoil directly connected to the space vehicle so that the parafoil and space vehicle can move independently and relative to each other in flight.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the parafoil is actuated during step (b).

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the air breathing engine operates for 25 minutes from launch to bring the space vehicle to an altitude of approximately 18 kilometers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at approximately 34 minutes after launch the space vehicle is at an altitude of approximately 75 kilometers by using the rocket propellant motor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a payload is placed in orbit at least at an altitude of 120 kilometers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein after orbit the altitude is lowered for re-entry.