Near-space operation systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stratospheric-visit system, relating to a stratospheric visit using lighter-than-air travel, comprising:
- a) a payload system structured and arranged to provide at least one payload;
b) a launch system structured and arranged to launch the payload;
c) wherein said launch system comprisesa lighter-than-air propulsion system,a tethering system structured and arranged to tether, initially to ground, said lighter-than-air propulsion system, andan un-tethering system structured and arranged to un-tether, from the ground, said lighter-than-air propulsion system;
e) a travel control system structured and arranged to control, in the stratospheric visit, travel of the payload;
f) a communication system structured and arranged for communication during said stratospheric-visit; and
g) a recovery system structured and arranged to recover the payload;
h) wherein said recovery system comprisesa separator system structured and arranged to perform separation of the payload from said lighter-than-air propulsion system,at least one drogue parachute structured and arranged to decelerate the payload after the separation of the payload from said lighter-than-air propulsion system,wherein the drogue parachute comprises;
a bridle line for coupling the drogue parachute to the payload; and
a drogue stiffener comprising an elongate carbon fiber rod coupled to the bridle line for stiffening an elongate portion of the bridle line to prevent entanglement of the bridle line with the payload and to separate the payload from the drogue parachute; and
at least one parafoil to assist landing of the payload.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system enabling safe manned and unmanned operations at extremely high altitudes (above 70,000 feet). The system utilizes a balloon launch system and parachute and/or parafoil recovery.
220 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A stratospheric-visit system, relating to a stratospheric visit using lighter-than-air travel, comprising:
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a) a payload system structured and arranged to provide at least one payload; b) a launch system structured and arranged to launch the payload; c) wherein said launch system comprises a lighter-than-air propulsion system, a tethering system structured and arranged to tether, initially to ground, said lighter-than-air propulsion system, and an un-tethering system structured and arranged to un-tether, from the ground, said lighter-than-air propulsion system; e) a travel control system structured and arranged to control, in the stratospheric visit, travel of the payload; f) a communication system structured and arranged for communication during said stratospheric-visit; and g) a recovery system structured and arranged to recover the payload; h) wherein said recovery system comprises a separator system structured and arranged to perform separation of the payload from said lighter-than-air propulsion system, at least one drogue parachute structured and arranged to decelerate the payload after the separation of the payload from said lighter-than-air propulsion system, wherein the drogue parachute comprises; a bridle line for coupling the drogue parachute to the payload; and a drogue stiffener comprising an elongate carbon fiber rod coupled to the bridle line for stiffening an elongate portion of the bridle line to prevent entanglement of the bridle line with the payload and to separate the payload from the drogue parachute; and at least one parafoil to assist landing of the payload. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A stratospheric-visit method, relating to a stratospheric visit using lighter-than-air travel, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one payload b) launching the payload; c) wherein the step of launching comprises the steps of propelling the payload with a lighter-than-air propulsion system, tethering, initially to ground, the lighter-than-air propulsion system, and un-tethering, from the ground, the lighter-than-air propulsion system; e) controlling travel, in the stratospheric visit, of the payload, wherein the payload reaches altitudes of at least 70,000 ft; f) communicating, during the stratospheric visit, with the payload; and g) recovering the payload; h) wherein the step of recovering comprises the steps of performing separation of the payload from the lighter-than-air propulsion system, using a deployed drogue parachute to decelerate the payload after the separation of the payload from the lighter-than-air propulsion system, wherein the drogue parachute comprises; a bridle line for coupling the drogue parachute to the payload; and a drogue stiffener coupled to the bridle line for stiffening an elongate portion of the bridle line to prevent entanglement of the bridle line with the payload during descent and to separate the payload from the drogue parachute; and further decelerating the payload with a parafoil wherein the parafoil is deployed at an altitude less than that at which the drogue parachute is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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12. A stratospheric-visit method, relating to a stratospheric visit using lighter-than-air travel, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing at least one payload comprising at least one drogue parachute system, comprising;
a drogue parachute coupled to the payload; andan elongate drogue stiffener comprising a carbon fiber rod configured to prevent entanglement of the drogue parachute with the payload during the descent and to separate the payload from the drogue parachute; and at least one parafoil; b) launching the payload; c) wherein the step of launching comprises the steps of propelling the payload with a lighter-than-air propulsion system, tethering, initially to ground, the lighter-than-air propulsion system, and un-tethering, from the ground, the lighter-than-air propulsion system; e) controlling travel, in the stratospheric visit, of the payload; f) communicating, during the stratospheric visit, with the payload; and g) recovering the payload; h) wherein the step of recovering comprises the steps of performing separation of the payload from the lighter-than-air propulsion system, decelerating, with the parafoil, the payload after the separation of the payload from the lighter-than-air propulsion system, wherein the payload is decelerated by the parafoil deployed at altitude; and landing the payload using the parafoil. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification