Spacecraft hardware tracker

• US 7,557,753 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Ailor, William H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US11/796,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.1, 244/158.1, 244/158.8, 244/1.R, 244/158.9, 244/159.1, 244/159.2, 244164-171, 342 42- 51, 342/62, 342/175, 342/195, 342450-465, 342/352, 342/385, 342/386, 34235701-35717, 455/91, 455/95, 455/98, 701 1- 18, 701/200, 701207-226
• US Class Current: 342/463
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 3/00 Observing or tracking cosmonautic vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

A GPS tracker is disposed on launch hardware that separates from a spacecraft launch vehicle during ascent to orbit with the launch hardware having a suborbital trajectory from launch to impact while being tracked so as to track the launch hardware during suborbital flight, such as for tracking separated fuel stages, external tanks, external boosters, and payload fairings that return to earth.

Claims

1. A system for receiving GPS signals and providing tracking signals during a suborbital flight path, the system comprising,

launch hardware being part of a spacecraft having a launch vehicle portion for launching into orbit, the launch hardware coupled to the launch vehicle portion, the launch hardware having a suborbital flight path, and

a tracking device coupled to the launch hardware, the tracking device receiving the GPS signals from GPS satellites and providing tracking signals to a communications satellite for tracking the launch hardware during the suborbital flight path.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the launch hardware is a payload fairing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the launch hardware is a fuel stage.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the launch hardware is an external tank.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the launch hardware is a solid rocket booster.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the launch hardware is a reusable solid rocket booster.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracker comprises,

a modem for receiving GPS signals and transmitting the tracking signals.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the launch hardware is a reusable liquid rocket booster.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracker comprises,

a modem for receiving GPS signals and transmitting the tracking signals, and

a battery for supplying power to the modem.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracker comprises,

a data recorder for recording flight path data.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracker comprises,

a sensor for sensing excitations, and

a data recorder for recording sensing excitations.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking device comprises,

a sensor for sensing excitations,

a data recorder for recording sensing excitations and flight path data, and

a modem for receiving GPS signals and transmitting the tracking signals and recorded sensing excitations and recorded flight path data.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the tracking device provides tracking data during an initial launch phase when the tracking device is rigidly coupled to the launch vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the tracking device provides a tracking signal after an initial launch phase when the launch hardware is separated from the launch vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the tracking device provides the tracking signal after an initial launch phase when the launch hardware is separated from the launch vehicle until impact of the launch hardware.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the tracking device provides the tracking signal after the launch vehicle impacts earth.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein,

the communications system relays the tracking signals to a ground station.