Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure – Passenger or cargo loading or discharging
Reexamination Certificate
2005-12-23
2008-12-02
Collins, Timothy D (Department: 3643)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft structure
Passenger or cargo loading or discharging
C244S137300, C244S171400
Reexamination Certificate
active
07458544
ABSTRACT:
A system for launching a launch vehicles mounted beneath an aircraft. A mechanism which separates the launch vehicle from the carrier aircraft engages the launch vehicle, and prevents the launch vehicle from coming into contact with the carrier aircraft as the launch vehicle is dropped away from the launch vehicle. A lanyard extends from the carrier aircraft applies an impulse to the launch vehicle as it is separated from the aircraft causing the launch vehicle to rotate upwardly of the pitch plane. A drogue parachute applies a rearward force to the launch vehicle holding the rigid trapeze in engagement with the launch vehicle, and damping the rate of rotation in the pitch plane as the rotation of the pitch plane brings a launch vehicle to a substantially vertical launch attitude, were powered flight of launch vehicle is begun. The launch vehicle follows a trajectory that crosses behind the carrier aircraft.
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“Air Launching Earth-to-Orbit Vehicles: Delta V Gains from Launch Conditions and Vehicle Aerodynamics” by Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn, Christopher Noel and Marti Sarigul-Klijn, 42nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, Reno, Nevada, Jan. 5-8, 2004.
“A Study of Air Launch Methods for RLVs” by Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn and Marti Sarigul-Klijn, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2001.
“Flight Testing of a New Air Launch for Safely Launching Personnel and Cargo into Low Earth Orbit”, by Marti Sarigul-Klijn, Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn, Bob Margan, Jim Tighe, Arnaldo Leon, Gary Hudson, Bevin McKinney and David Gump, printed from t/Space website: http://www.transformspace.com/document—library/media/AIAA-2006-1040.pdf orginally written on Jun. 16, 2005.
“Can a Small Start-up Build America's Next Spaceship?” by Michael Belfiore, originally appeared in Sep. 2005 issue of Popular Science, reprinted from Popular Science website: http://www.popsci.com/popsci/printerfriendly/aviationspace/fdd9d989caf46010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html printed Dec. 6, 2005, 3 pp.
Printout of slide show accompanying Belfiore's Sep. 2005 Popular Science article: http://img.timeinc.net/popsci/images/2005/09/space1005tspace—485xslide1.jpg http://img.timeinc.net/popsci/images/2005/09/space1005tspace—485xslide2.jpghttp://img.timeinc.net/popsci/images/2005/09/space1005tspace—485xslide3.jpg http://img.timeinc.net/images/2005/09/space1005tspace—485xslide4.jpg all images printed Dec. 6, 2005, 4 pp.
“Best of What's New 2005: t/Space Crew Transfer Vehicle Smart Shuttle Backup”, originally appeared in Nov. 2005 issue of Popular Science, reprinted from Popular Science website: http://www.popsci.com/popsci/bown2005/aviationspace/209f1d15cc827010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html printed Dec. 6, 2005, 2 pp.
Sarigul-Klijn Marti
Sarigul-Klijn Nesrin
Airlaunch LLC
Collins Timothy D
Stiennon & Stiennon
LandOfFree
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