System for use of external secondary payloads
US7354020B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2003 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/641
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An experiment system with six different re-entry experiment locations for testing high temperature re-entry materials, creating new thermal protection systems, proving innovative new concepts for spacecraft exterior surfaces and the incremental development of next generation aerospace materials. A commercial transportation system to and from orbit provides a 24-hour return cycle for the experiments on a surface actually re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Now using existing doors, hatches and other points on the reusable launch vehicle's exterior, the actual re-entry environment is experienced by test specimens with quick turn around for a wide variety of different re-entry temperatures ranges for broad testing and development purposes. The reusable launch vehicle launches, remains in orbit for 24 hours and returns to provide an actual test environment for the exterior experiment system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.