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.
Claims20
A space mining system, comprising:
- a propellant depot configured to store propellant mined from celestial bodies;
- a space mining vehicle configured to:
- spall a surface of one of the celestial bodies to release the propellant from the surface, and
- capture the released propellant;
- and
- a transfer vehicle configured to deliver the propellant from the space mining vehicle to the propellant depot.
A space mining system, comprising:
- a space mining vehicle configured to spall a surface a celestial body and capture material released from the surface;
- and
- a transfer vehicle configured to deliver the material from the space mining vehicle to a depot configured to store the material,
- wherein the material is configured to be used for at least one of the following:
- propellants, feedstocks for manufacturing, radiation shielding, a source of resupply, and for return to Earth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.