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US 12,435,684 B2Granted
Atmospheric re-entry vehicle with skewed base heat shield
OwnerThomas Ryan McCullough, Thomas Feldmaninventors
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Abstract
An atmospheric re-entry vehicle includes a main body defining a forward end of the vehicle, a base defining an aft end of the vehicle, and a heat shield at the base. The heat shield includes a heat shield outer surface. The main body and the heat shield are configured such that a centerline of the heat shield is offset relative to a centerline of the main body. At least a portion of the heat shield outer surface is at least substantially axisymmetric relative to the centerline of the heat shield.
Claims36
An atmospheric re-entry vehicle, comprising:
- a main body defining a forward end of the vehicle;
- a base defining an aft end of the vehicle;
- and
- a heat shield at the base, the heat shield including a heat shield outer surface;
- wherein the main body and the heat shield are configured such that a centerline of the heat shield is offset relative to a centerline of the main body;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the heat shield outer surface is at least substantially axisymmetric relative to the centerline of the heat shield.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.