Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – Spacecraft formation – orbit – or interplanetary path
Patent
1992-09-21
1994-08-16
Focarino, Margaret A.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path
244161, 244159, B64G 100
Patent
active
053379802
ABSTRACT:
The invention lies in a support transition which is affixed to a spacecraft for supporting the spacecraft on a support ring of a booster or launch vehicle. The transition is in the general form of a ring defining a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of the spacecraft and the booster. The transition has a circular end adapted to mate with the booster support ring, and a polygonal end adapted to mate with the spacecraft, and makes a smooth transition between ends. The circumference of the transition, at any cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis, is constant. The transition is advantageously made of a composite material such as fiber-reinforced solidified liquid or carbon-fiber reinforced resin. In a particular embodiment, the polygonal end is a square rectangle, with four straight sides and rounded corners. In a set of spacecraft, the transition remains the same size.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3517897 (1970-06-01), Wells
patent: 3812771 (1974-05-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 4009851 (1977-03-01), Cable
patent: 4682744 (1987-07-01), Gounder
Chen Wensen
Close John E.
DeStefano Joel
Homer Peter K.
Parenti Robert V.
Berard C. A.
Ellis Christopher P.
Focarino Margaret A.
General Electric Co.
Meise W. H.
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