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US 11,691,767 B1Granted
Rocket booster stage landing apparatus
OwnerMounir Njahinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rocket booster stage landing apparatus for more reliably landing a returning booster stage for reuse in propelling and launching subsequent main rockets.
Claims17
A rocket booster stage landing apparatus for receiving a landing booster stage with a landing booster stage base on a landing site comprising
- a platform comprising an area, a perimeter, a top, a bottom, and a center,
- a dampening cushioning device comprises a base attached to the center of the platform, a dampening region above the base, and a protruding top with a base element attached to the dampening region and configured to participate in diffusing hot gas from ignited fuel away from the dampening cushioning device and the landing site of the landing booster stage and avoid having the hot gas blowing back to the landing rocket booster stage,
- an exhaust diffuser device comprising a base with a first diameter in communication with the platform to form multiple openings configured to direct hot gas from ignited fuel from the landing rocket booster stage away from the dampening cushioning device on the platform, a mid-region with a second inside surface and a second diameter attached to the dampening cushioning device and the second inside surface, and an upper section with a third diameter, a third inside surface, and a third edge configured to releasably attach to a base of a landing rocket booster stage, the exhaust diffuser device having, a truncated cone shape with an outer surface and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter that is larger than the third diameter;
- and
- a truncated hollow cone comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper end having an upper opening with a fourth edge with a fourth circumference and an appropriate fourth diameter to permit access of the landing rocket booster stage, a lower region with a fifth diameter less than the fourth diameter and configured to expose the third edge of the exhaust diffuser device and a flared bottom with a sixth diameter and an inside surface between the fifth diameter and the sixth diameter that is configured to enclose and be in communication with the outer surface of the exhaust diffuser device to direct ignited fuel to the diffuser top and outward away from the dampening cushioning device and from the landing site of the landing booster stage to avoid blow back and damage to the landing booster stage.
2 more elements
A method of using a rocket booster stage landing apparatus for receiving a landing booster with a base comprising
- providing a rocket booster stage landing apparatus comprising
- a platform comprising an area, a perimeter, a top, a bottom, and a center;
- a dampening cushioning device comprises a base attached to the hollow center of the platform, a dampening region above the base, and a protruding top with a base element attached to the dampening region and configured to participate in diffusing hot gas from the ignited fuel away from the dampening cushioning device and the landing site of the landing booster stage and avoid having the hot gas blowing back to the landing rocket booster stage;
- an exhaust diffuser device comprising a base with a first diameter in communication with the platform to form multiple openings configured to direct hot gas from the ignited fuel from the landing rocket booster stage away from the dampening cushioning device on the platform and the landing booster stage, a mid-region with a second inside surface and a second diameter attached to the dampening cushioning device and the second inside surface, and an upper section with a third diameter, a third inside surface, and a third edge configured to releasably attach to a base of a landing rocket booster stage, the exhaust diffuser device having, a truncated cone shape with an outer surface and the first diameter is larger than the second diameter that is larger than the third diameter;
- and
- a truncated hollow cone comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper end having an upper opening with a fourth edge with a fourth circumference and an appropriate fourth diameter to permit access of the landing rocket booster stage, a lower region with a fifth diameter less than the fourth diameter and configured to expose the third edge of the exhaust diffuser device and a flared bottom with a sixth diameter and an inside surface between the fifth diameter and the sixth diameter that is configured to enclose and be in communication with the outer surface of the exhaust diffuser device to direct hot gas from ignited fuel to the diffuser top and outward away from the dampening cushioning device and from the landing site of the landing booster stage to avoid blowing back and damaging the landing booster stage;
- positioning the rocket booster stage landing apparatus over a pre-determined area consisting of either stationary land or a floating platform over water that is going to be used as a target;
- providing a landing booster stage descending to a pre-determined target area on earth containing the rocket booster stage landing apparatus after decoupling from a main rocket;
- refining the position of the rocket booster stage landing apparatus to be centered to the descending landing booster stage to receive the landing booster stage;
- and
- retrieving the rocket booster stage intact to form a retrieved rocket booster stage.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.