Integrated aerospike engine and aerobrake for a spacecraft

Details Integrated aerospike engine and aerobrake for a spacecraft Integrated aerospike engine and aerobrake for a spacecraft

1992-03-23

1993-04-13

Barefoot, Galen

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

Spacecraft formation, orbit, or interplanetary path

244164, 244160, 244110D, 244 54, 244 62, B64G 100

Patent

active

052018326

ABSTRACT:
The purpose integrated aerospike rocket engine and space vehicle aerobrake is to provide for optimum installation and performance of these systems in a space vehicle. By integrating the aerospike engine into the middle of the aerobrake, the engine can be located with its center of gravity toward the face of the aerobrake. This location permits the maximization of the displacement of the aerodynamic center of pressure of the aerobrake relative to the center of gravity of the space vehicle, thereby maximizing the stability of the vehicle upon aerodynamic capture at the earth or another planet. By substituting an aerospike rocket engine for a conventional bell nozzle engine, the doors required to close the aperture in the aerobrake to accommodate the conventional engines can be eliminated. In addition to the unique combination of the aero-spike engine and the aerobrake, an included unique feature of the invention is the extendable nozzle plug. By extending the plug, the annular combustion nozzle of the aerospike engine is closed, thereby, eliminating the lip which would otherwise extend into the airstream and present extreme heating problems.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3228634 (1966-01-01), Chakoian
patent: 3604667 (1971-09-01), Moraes
patent: 4832288 (1989-05-01), Kandall
patent: 4896847 (1990-01-01), Coertsch
patent: 5083728 (1992-01-01), Heck
patent: 5108046 (1992-04-01), Ghaumette

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