Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Reusable or returnable
Reexamination Certificate
2005-11-01
2008-10-07
Dinh, Tien (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Reusable or returnable
Reexamination Certificate
active
07431242
ABSTRACT:
A convex shell structure for enhanced aerodynamic performance and/or reduced heat transfer requirements for a space vehicle that re-enters an atmosphere. The structure has a fore-body, an aft-body, a longitudinal axis and a transverse cross sectional shape, projected on a plane containing the longitudinal axis, that includes: first and second linear segments, smoothly joined at a first end of each the first and second linear segments to an end of a third linear segment by respective first and second curvilinear segments; and a fourth linear segment, joined to a second end of each of the first and second segments by curvilinear segments, including first and second ellipses having unequal ellipse parameters. The cross sectional shape is non-symmetric about the longitudinal axis. The fourth linear segment can be replaced by a sum of one or more polynomials, trigonometric functions or other functions satisfying certain constraints.
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Brown James L.
Garcia Joseph A.
Prabhu Dinesh K.
Dinh Tien
Padilla Robert M.
Schipper John F.
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator
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