System and method for matching of space launch, satellite, and mission payload opportunities

• US 9,260,203 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omni Consulting Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Omni Consulting Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Newton, Keith C., Conn, Frank, Flynn, Thomas Francis Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US14/247,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20150284109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 244/2, 244/171.3, 244/171.8, 342/357.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/002 Launch systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/10 Artificial satellites; Systems of such satellites; Interplanetary vehicles space shuttles B64G1/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 5/00 Ground equipment for vehicles, e.g. starting towers, fuelling arrangements B64G3/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system and a related method are disclosed for matching space launch vehicle, satellite, and mission hosted payload opportunities utilizing multi-level, priority algorithms. The potential matches include numerous mission-matching scenarios, e.g., 1) matching hosted payload and host spacecraft, and 2) matching spacecraft(s) and launch opportunities, to include rideshare opportunities. The matching opportunities can be pursued by any interested project team, e.g., hosted payload, spacecraft, and space launch vehicle.

Claims

1. A computerized method for matching space launch vehicle, satellite, and payload opportunities, comprising:

receiving, at a network-based system, a plurality of technical and mission parameters from a requestor on a client device associated with a first user, for a requestor mission that is a payload, a spacecraft or a space launch vehicle, the plurality of technical and mission parameters for identifying mission match of (a) matching a hosted payload and a host spacecraft or vice versa or (b) matching a spacecraft and space launch vehicle or vice versa;

accessing parameters relating to a prospective mission match from a database management system (DBMS) within the network-based system, based upon the plurality of technical and mission parameters from the requestor mission;

determining, using one or more processors within the network-based system, a match priority (MP) value for the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, via a matching module that utilizes technical and mission parameters of the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, in which the parameters are user-defined into prioritized tiers, wherein the matching module assigns a value to matching parameters based upon a prescribed trade range;

assigning a target match associating the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, upon the accessing and determining step, if the MP satisfies a prescribed threshold;

transmitting data for target match (e.g., the match priority value, the cost estimate, the feasibility assessment, and the schedule risk assessment) to the first user.

2. The computerized method as recited in claim 1, wherein the matching module assigns a match-priority (MP) value for each parameter set by user (e.g. volume, mass, power requirements, and launch schedule).

3. The computerized method as recited in claim 2, wherein the matching module assigns a match-priority value for each matching parameters to determine the overall match priority value (MP), including a match value for payload size (volume), match value for payload weight (mass), and a match value for payload power requirements.

14. The computerized method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

conducting a cost estimate for the target match, via a costing module, using one or more processors within the network-based system.

4. A computerized method for matching launch, satellite, and mission payload opportunities, comprising:

receiving, at a network-based system, a plurality of technical and mission parameters for a requestor mission from a client device associated with a first user, in which the requestor mission is a payload, a spacecraft or a space launch, the plurality of mission parameters for identifying mission match of (a) matching a hosted payload and a host spacecraft or (b) matching a spacecraft and space launch vehicle;

accessing parameters relating to a prospective mission match from a database management system (DBMS) within the network-based system, based upon the plurality of mission parameters from the requestor mission;

determining, using one or more processors within the network-based system, a match priority value (MP) for the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, via a matching module that utilizes mission parameters of the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, in which the parameters are categorized in prioritized tiers, wherein the matching module assigns a match priority (MP) value for matching parameters based upon a prescribed trade range to determine an overall match priority value (MP), including a match value for payload size (volume), match value for payload weight (mass), and a match value for payload power requirements; and

transmitting data to the client device.

5. The computerized method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

conducting a feasibility assessment for the target match, via a feasibility module, using one or more processors within the network-based system.

6. The computerized method as recited in claim 5, wherein the feasibility module utilizes parameters for type of orbit and thermal control range.

7. The computerized method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

conducting a schedule risk assessment for the target match, via a schedule risk module, using one or more processors within the network-based system.

8. The computerized method as recited in claim 4, further comprising a costing module utilizing a cost estimating relationship (CER), set at weighted percentages based upon mission parameters for the target match.

15. The computerized method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

conducting a cost estimate for the target match, via a costing module, using one or more processors within the network-based system.

9. A network-based system for matching of space launch, satellite and mission payload opportunities, comprising, within the network-based system network, a client device, database management system (DBMS), and one or more processors, in which the client device, comprising:

a matching module, including the one or more processors and the database management system (DBMS), in digital communication with the client device, that;

receives, a plurality of technical and mission parameters from a requestor on the client device associated with a first user, for a requestor mission that is a payload, a spacecraft or a space launch vehicle, the plurality of technical and mission parameters for identifying mission match of (a) matching a hosted payload and a host spacecraft or vice versa or (b) matching a spacecraft and space launch vehicle or vice versa,

accesses parameters relating to a prospective mission match from the database management system (DBMS), based upon the plurality of technical and mission parameters from the requestor mission,

determines, using the one or more processors, a match priority (MP) value for the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, via the matching module that utilizes technical and mission parameters of the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, in which the parameters are user-defined into prioritized tiers, wherein the matching module assigns a value to matching parameters based upon a prescribed trade range,

assigns a target match associating the requestor mission and the prospective mission match, upon the accessing and determining step, if the MP satisfies a prescribed threshold, and

transmits data for target match to the first user.

10. The network-based system as recited in claim 9, wherein the matching module assigns a match-priority (MP) value for each parameter set by user (e.g. volume, mass, power requirements, and launch schedule).

11. The network-based system as recited in claim 10, wherein the matching module assigns a match-priority value for each matching parameters to determine the overall match priority value (MP), including a match value for payload size (volume), match value for payload weight (mass), and a match value for payload power requirements.

12. The network-based system as recited in claim 9, further comprising:

a costing module, including the one or more processors and the database management system (DBMS), in digital communication with the client device, that conducts a cost estimate for the target match, using one or more processors within the network-based system, utilizing a cost estimating relationship (CER), set at weighted percentages based upon mission parameters for the target match; and

a feasibility module, including the one or more processors and the database management system (DBMS), in digital communication with the client device, conducts a feasibility assessment for the target match, based upon parameters for type of orbit and thermal control range.

13. The network-based system as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a schedule risk module, including the one or more processors and the database management system (DBMS), that conducts a schedule risk assessment for the target match.