Patent · US Active

Method of traveling to Earth's orbit using lighter than air vehicles

US7614586B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
8References
2Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 10, 2006
Grant dateNov 10, 2009
Priority date—
Expiry dateAug 3, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64G1/646
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for transporting people and cargo from the surface of the Earth to orbit around the Earth is disclosed. The present invention uses a series of lighter-than-air vehicles to allow for a far safer and less strenuous trip to orbit than using current rocket-based technology. The high altitude atmospheric airship is flown from the ground to the upper atmosphere, where it docks with the buoyant transfer station, and from there, the people and cargo transfer to an orbital airship for the remainder of the trip to orbit. The orbital airship returns to the station for another transfer back to the atmospheric airship for the return back to the surface of Earth.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.