Salvage hardware apparatus and method for orbiting objects
US5813632A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 29, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G99/00
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An aerospace hardware package is used to salvage derelicts in space. The package incorporates at least the subsystems required to salvage and reuse portions of previously discarded launch vehicle components and other derelict objects in space. The salvaged items include the external tank of the space shuttle, and the Russian-made ENERGIA rocket system in two forms. The salvaged hardware is capable of contributing mass, length, exterior surface, strongback, gravity gradient stability, interior volumes, base metal sources and stability with the addition of a salvage subsystems package. The package supplies capabilities such as power and communications and later evolves toward more complex services taking full advantage of the salvaged hardware's attributes to reduce the cost and difficulty of space operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.