Guided rocket system for the non-destructive capture of slow moving high altitude objects

A method for the non-destructive takedown of a high-altitude aerial object, the method comprising:

• providing a thrusting rocket enabled with a takedown payload;
• the takedown payload acquiring altitude, motion, and position parameters of a high altitude aerial object;
• the rocket acquiring a position overlying the aerial object;
• the takedown payload releasing a first plurality of ballast units, attached to a capture net, downward in a capture pattern surrounding the aerial object;
• in response to releasing the ballast units, covering a top surface of the aerial object with the capture net;
• subsequent to covering the top surface of the aerial object with the capture net, determining the aerial object altitude decent rate;
• comparing the aerial object altitude decent rate to a desired altitude decent rate;
• supplying a ballast management signal in response to the comparison;
• combining a mass of each ballast unit with a mass of the aerial object to form a combined mass;
• and,
• in response to the combined mass, decreasing the aerial object altitude.

A high-altitude non-destructive aerial object takedown system comprising:

• a rocket with a propulsion system;
• a takedown payload embedded with the rocket comprising:
• a first plurality of ballast units releasable from the takedown payload in a substantially circular capture pattern;
• a first plurality of tethers, each tether having a proximal end attached to a corresponding ballast unit and a distal end connected to a takedown payload capture net;
• the capture net with a first plurality equally spaced attachment points formed along a capture net perimeter, with each attachment point connected to a corresponding tether;
• and,
• a controller having signal inputs to accept altitude measurements, the controller configured to calculate an altitude decent rate and supply a ballast management signal.

A high-altitude non-destructive aerial object takedown system comprising:

• a rocket comprising:
• a propulsion system;
• a reaction control system (RCS) having an input to accept adjustment instructions and an output mechanism controlling the movement of the rocket;
• a go-onto-target (GOT) guidance system configured to calculate a ballast unit release height between the takedown payload and the aerial object, with signal inputs to accept aerial object altitude, positon, and motion data, and an output to supply the adjustment instructions to the RCS;
• a takedown payload embedded with the rocket comprising:
• a first plurality of ballast units releasable from the takedown payload in a substantially circular capture pattern;
• a first plurality of tethers, each tether having a proximal end attached to a corresponding ballast unit and a distal end connected to a takedown payload capture net;
• and,
• the capture net with a first plurality equally spaced attachment points formed along a capture net perimeter, with each attachment point connected to a corresponding tether.