Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1984-08-29
1987-05-12
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
244172, B64G 110
Patent
active
046643435
ABSTRACT:
A vehicle for transferring multiple payloads from the trajectory of an earth-launch vehicle to another trajectory. The vehicle includes an engine module, to which one payload is directly attached. A carrier member extends forwardly, enclosing the first payload, which is detachably secured directly to the support frame and adapted to carry the second payload in tandem with and forward of the first payload. Cantilever and linear loads are transmitted directly by the second payload to the support frame of the engine module. The second payload, the carrier member and then the first payload are sequentially separated from the engine module after achieving another, e.g., geostationary, orbit. The vehicle may have dual-mode capability in which it can carry a single, relatively larger (heavier) payload or two, relatively smaller (lighter) payloads. In this configuration the engine module carries rocket engine and fuel supply elements which are sized to accomplish payload transfer in either mode and the operational carrier member which is employed in the dual transfer is configured such that, along with second payload, there is no substantial change in the center of gravity of the vehicle whether used in either mode.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3652042 (1972-03-01), Welther
patent: 3907225 (1975-09-01), Welther
patent: 4326684 (1982-04-01), Rosen
patent: 4471926 (1984-09-01), Steel, III
"The European Space Tug: A Reappraisal", D. Scott and M. Hempsell, presented to the BIS Space Transportation Symposium, Jun. 1980.
Ballard David
Lofts Dennis
Barefoot Galen L.
Corl Rodney
Drummond William H.
Scott Science & Technology, Inc.
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