Space transportation node including tether system

• US 7,503,526 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Citron, Thomas C. Taylor, Walter P. Kistler
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Citron, Thomas C. Taylor, Walter P. Kistler
• Inventors: Citron, Robert A., Kistler, Walter P., Taylor, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Timothy D
• Application Number:
  US11/232,932
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158.2, 244/158.4, 244/172.4
• US Class Current: 244/158.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/002 Launch systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/12 manned
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/14 Space shuttles reusable launch rockets B64G1/006
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/34 using gravity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/402 Propellant tanks; Feeding propellants
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/50 for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/62 Systems for re-entry into the earth's atmosphere; Retarding or landing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/646 Docking or rendezvous systems refueling in space B64G1/4024
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/648 Tethers

Abstract

A transportation node system orbits a celestial body. The node system includes a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body. The truss stores payloads. The node system also includes tether tips, each attached to one end of the truss via a tether so that each tether tip can extend from the truss and retract to the truss for transfer of payloads. The tether runs through the length of the truss and connects to each tether tip, each tether tip being capable of engaging payloads. The node further includes at least one tether cable reel that reels in and reels out the tether so the tether tips can extend from and retract to the truss.

Claims

1. A transportation node system that orbits a celestial body, the system comprising:

a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body, the truss storing payloads;

a plurality of tether tips, each attached to individual ends of the truss via a tether so that each tether tip can extend from the truss and retract to the truss for transfer of payloads, the tether running through the length of the truss and connecting to each tether tip, each tether tip being capable of engaging payloads; and

at least one tether cable reel that reels in and reels out the tether so the tether tips can extend from and retract to the truss.

2. The system of claim 1, having a mass at least fifteen times a sum of a mass of an average payload and a mass of a transportation craft.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the tether reel is inflatable so that when the tether reel is inflated a diameter of the tether reel increases enabling faster reeling.

4. The system of claim 1, in which each tether tip further comprises a tether tip frame attached to the truss via the tether, the tether tip frame comprising a storage section for storing payloads, and a secondary tether that engages payloads.

5. The system of claim 1, in which the transportation node system changes a center of mass by moving mass along the truss length.

6. The system of claim 1, in which the transportation node system changes a center of mass based upon irregular magnetic forces of the celestial body.

7. The system of claim 1, in which the transportation node system changes a center of mass based upon a diameter difference between the celestial body'"'"'s poles and equator.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a payload elevator that transfers payloads within the system.

9. The system of claim 1, in which the truss further comprises an external tank (ET) truss that attaches to a plurality of salvaged external tanks, the ET truss attaching to aft solid rocket booster hard points of each salvaged ET, attaching to aft orbiter hardware attachment points of each salvaged ET, and attaching to forward solid rocket booster hard points of each salvaged ET.

10. The system of claim 9, in which at least one of the payloads comprises a moveable tank for storing cryogenic propellant, the propellant tank being enclosed by the ET and cooled by a cooling system,

wherein propellant is stored without breaking a seal on the propellant tank.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a rail gun, tower accelerator, forward velocity cart, rocket sled, and mass driver to match velocities at tether tip transfers at a surface of the celestial body and to minimize impact when a payload is transferred from one of the tether tips to the surface of the celestial body.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising tether sub nodes distributed along the tether, each sub node comprising detectors that detect severing of the tether, each sub node comprising propulsion and attitude control enabling a close sub node, which is nearest to the breaking point of the tether, to maneuver towards the breaking point of the tether, and each sub node comprising a tether reel for reeling in and reeling out the tether.

13. The system of claim 11, in which sub nodes on either side of the severed tether repair the severed tether by attaching to each other after the tether severs.

14. The system of claim 11, in which sub nodes on either side of the severed tether repair the severed tether by attaching to the tether at the severed end and restoring the severed tether to service.

15. The system of 1, further comprising a cross truss that extends along a cross truss axis that intersects with a long axis of the truss, the cross truss rotating around the long axis, the cross truss having a capability of engaging and disengaging payloads.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a direction in which the payload travels is changed using the cross truss.