Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Reusable or returnable
Patent
1997-11-03
2000-04-04
Grant, William
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Reusable or returnable
244172, B64G 156, B64G 160, B64G 164
Patent
active
060450940
ABSTRACT:
A space vehicle which is a combined space ship and space station (1), able to combine the functions of a lunar mission transport and a lunar support station. Propulsion rockets (60) are used for translation, and thrusters for attitude control and station keeping. The vehicle (1) inner components (2,8) are rotated to produce variable finite gravities, while the outer components are stationary for zero gravity. The center of vehicle (1) is a vertical main module (2) to which are attached a horizontal network of minor modules (8) to form spokes and periphery of a wheel structure. This module network is rotated by electromagnetic bearings (44, 10) powered by vehicle (1) electricity. The stationary parts of the electromagnetic bearings (48, 14) are connected to truss support assemblies (50, 52, 54, 56, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82) which are at zero gravity. Docking facilities for visiting space ships, such as the Space Shuttle, are attached to a truss support assembly (54). The one-g peripheral modules (8) house the crews and one-g experiments, while spoke modules (8) are devoted to activities at partial gravity. Zero gravity facilities attached to the truss support assemblies (50, 52, 54, 56, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82) include hangars used for satellite retrieval and repair and zero-g experiments, meteor and heat shields, and solar panels for generating vehicle (1) electricity.
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patent: 4730797 (1988-03-01), Minovitch
patent: 4785212 (1988-11-01), Downer et al.
patent: 4872625 (1989-10-01), Filley
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