Spacecraft reentry breakup recorder

US6895314B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• William H. Ailor, III · Rancho Palos Verdes, US
• Ronald John Bywater · Ashburn, US
• Leon Gurevich · Chesterfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 11, 2003
• Grant date: May 17, 2005
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07C5/085
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

One or more small self-contained reentry breakup recorders are disposed within a spacecraft and each includes a sensor suite for collecting and recording collected and recorded sensory data during reentry breakup of the spacecraft, and includes a communications system for broadcasting the collected and recorded sensory data after breakup and before impact with the surface of the earth to a remote communication system for preserving the sensory data of the breakup as well as data relating to critical events occurring prior to breakup. An internal GPS receiver provides sensory positional data of the reentry and breakup positions.