Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1991-03-27
1993-04-20
Barefoot,, Galen
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
244160, B64G 100
Patent
active
052038440
ABSTRACT:
A space launch vehicle having two or more specified benign failure modes and associated payload performances capable of launching two or more payloads to one or more mission orbits. When the vehicle benign failure mode yielding the highest vehicle performance occurs all of the payloads are placed in orbit successfully. When a lower performance benign failure mode occurs one or more of the payloads is jettisoned early in the launch trajectory enabling the other payload(s) to be placed in mission orbit(s) successfully. Thus, the maximum specified performance capability of the vehicle is achieved for most of its launches and that performance is reduced only when a specified benign failure occurs that leads to jettisoning a payload(s) to enable the remaining payload(s) to be placed in mission orbit(s) successfully. An interstage propellant transfer system between liquid propellant, multi-engine stages provides increased performance and numbers of benign failure modes which can occur and still achieve mission success. Each failure mode has a different probability of occurring, thus providing the flexibility of optimizing the costs of launch, payload and payload loss.
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Titan III Commercial Launch Services, Martin Marietta Apr. 1987, whole document.
Barefoot Galen
Bidwell Anne E.
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