Utilizing high altitude long endurance unmanned airborne vehicle technology for airborne space lift range support

• US 6,176,451 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Drymon, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US09/157,550
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.1, 244/3.11, 244/3.14, 244/3.15, 244/3.19, 244/158.R, 244/160, 244/162, 244/3.12, 244/172, 342/13, 342/52-58, 342/60, 342/62, 342/61, 342/63, 701/1-8
• US Class Current: 244/3.14
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/306 for transmitting guidance signals; F41G7/308 takes precedence

Abstract

A mobile space lift range system using a ground control station and an unmanned airborne vehicle that relayed data to and from a space lift vehicle to control it. The unmanned airborne vehicle may selectively include one or more sensor systems, a radar system, a command and telemetry system, and a user test system. The unmanned airborne vehicle is a high attitude, long endurance vehicle that provides a flexible, mobile range to support launch-anywhere space lift scenarios.

Claims

1. A system for assisting the launch of a vehicle into space, comprising:

an unmanned airborne vehicle that flies a controllable flight plan and that comprises a command and telemetry system for communicating with and commanding the vehicle that is to be launched into space; and

a ground control station that communicates with and controls the unmanned airborne vehicle and that communicates with and controls the vehicle that is to be launched into space by way of the unmanned airborne vehicle.

2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the command and telemetry system comprises a system that allows users to receive telemetry from the vehicle that is to be launched into space and to transmit commands to that vehicle.

3. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a sensor system.

4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein the sensor system comprises an infrared sensor system.

5. The system recited in claim 3 wherein the sensor system comprises a LIDAR sensor system.

6. The system recited in claim 3 wherein the sensor system comprises an optical sensor system.

7. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a radar system.

8. The system recited in claim 7 wherein the radar system comprises a multiple object tracking radar system.

9. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a user test system.

10. The system recited in claim 9 wherein the user test system comprises a system for testing specific aspects of the vehicle that is to be launched into space.

11. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the command and telemetry system communicates user mission package simulation data to and from the user test system.

12. The system recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle that is to be launched into space comprises a rocket.

13. The system recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of unmanned airborne vehicles.