Spacecraft for use in conjunction with a reusable space shuttle

Details Spacecraft for use in conjunction with a reusable space shuttle Spacecraft for use in conjunction with a reusable space shuttle

1982-08-12

1986-03-11

Barefoot, Galen L.

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

With fuel system details

244158R, B64G 126, B64G 140

Patent

active

045750297

ABSTRACT:
A spacecraft, and related method for its operation, for transporting a payload, such as a satellite, from a space shuttle in a low-altitude parking orbit, to an operational orbit. Housekeeping functions, such as communications, attitude control, and power-supply, are performed by subsystems integrated into the spacecraft and employed both while in the operational orbit and during ascent from the parking orbit. The payload is secured forward of a payload platform having forward and aft faces of isogrid construction, and the housekeeping subsystems are stored between the faces, an interface of electrical and other connections being provided to the payload through the forward platform face. A liquid bipropellant rocket engine secured behind the payload platform provides low thrust and relatively low acceleration, and is operated in a succession of short perigee burns to extend the orbit to a desired altitude, and then in one or more apogee burns to circularize the orbit, if the payload is a satellite. Tanks of fuel and oxidizer are also secured behind the payload platform, disposed about the engine in balanced pairs, each oxidizer tank being paired with a fuel tank located further from the center of mass than the heavier oxidizer tank, to preserve balance as the pair of tanks is depleted. Propellants are fed to the engine from one tank pair at a time, each pair, or stage, being jettisoned when its contents are consumed.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3286629 (1966-11-01), Laue
patent: 3295790 (1967-01-01), Webb
patent: 4009851 (1977-03-01), Cable
"Pioneer Venus Spacecraft Design and Operation", George Nothwang, IEEE Trans. on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. GE18, No. 1, Jan. 1980.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Spacecraft for use in conjunction with a reusable space shuttle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Spacecraft for use in conjunction with a reusable space shuttle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spacecraft for use in conjunction with a reusable space shuttle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2187835