Capsule spacecraft emergency landing system
US8690104B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2011 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 20, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64G1/623
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of landing a capsule-spacecraft having a crew compartment containing crew, light cargo, and whatever other elements are associated with crew safety and comfort during emergency recovery, such as survival equipment and a service component including any propulsion components, heat shield, heavier structure, or other equipment not directly connected with the crew component. In the event of a propulsion system failure, the crew compartment component is immediately separated from the service component, either by automatic or crew action. One or more parachutes are then deployed by rapid methods, such as rocket extraction, from the crew compartment. Because the space craft is separated into two parts the weight of the parachutes is reduced in proportion as the weight of the crew compartment is to the total capsule-spacecraft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.