Optics and structure for space applications
AssigneeTrans Astronautica Corporation
InventorJoel C. Sercel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transportation network for providing propellant in space can include optical mining vehicles that concentrate solar energy to spall captured asteroids, capture released volatiles, and store them in reservoirs as propellants. The network can also have orbital transfer vehicles that use solar thermal rocket modules that focus solar energy on heat exchangers to force propellant through nozzles, as well as separable aeromaneuvering tanker modules with reusable heatshields and storage tanks. The network can have propellant depots positioned between Earth and a transport destination. The depots can mechanically couple to accept propellant delivery and to supply it to visiting space vehicles.
Claims15
A transportation network for obtaining, storing, and providing propellant in space, the network comprising:
- an optical mining vehicle (OMV) comprising:
- one or more solar concentrators configured to focus solar energy toward a captured asteroid and spall a surface thereof;
- a containment device configured to surround the asteroid and capture material released by the spalling;
- and
- a propellant reservoir configured to store the captured material;
- an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) comprising:
- a solar thermal rocket (STR) propulsion module comprising a solar concentrator configured to focus solar energy on a heat exchanger having a propellant chamber and a nozzle configured to eject propellant at high speed, thereby propelling the module;
- and
- an aeromaneuvering tanker module (ATM) separable from the STR propulsion module, the ATM comprising a reusable heatshield and a water storage tank;
- and
- a propellant depot positioned between Earth and a transport destination, the depot configured to:
- accept delivery of propellant mined by OMVs from asteroids and delivered by OTVs;
- and
- mechanically couple to and supply at least a portion of the propellant to visiting space vehicles.
A method for obtaining, storing, and providing propellant in space, the method comprising:
- surrounding an asteroid with a containment device of an optical mining vehicle (OMV);
- focusing solar energy toward the contained asteroid and spalling a surface thereof using one or more solar concentrators of the OMV;
- capturing material released by the spalling using the containment device;
- storing the captured material in a propellant reservoir of the OMV;
- delivering the captured material from the OMV to a propellant depot using an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), the propellant depot positioned between earth and a transport destination;
- and
- mechanically coupling to and supplying at least a portion of the propellant to visiting space vehicles by the propellant depot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.