Method for injecting payloads into orbit
US5681011A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 24, 1993 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/002
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention comprises a method for injecting a heavier payload into orbit than is possible using a traditional method and the same rocket booster launch vehicle. The method of the present invention does not utilize a parking orbit and does not perform orbital injection at perigee or apogee of the desired orbit. Rather, in the present method the flight path angle is positive at the final lower stage booster burn so as to boost the perigee kick motor and payload into a suborbital trajectory having a low perigee, which may be below the surface of the Earth. In the preferred embodiment, the launch vehicle maintains a negative flight path angle during the PKM burn. The PKM burn does not occur at perigee, but perigee is at the desired location when the PKM burn is complete. Use of this method increases the payload capacity of some launch vehicles by up to fifty percent (50%).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.