Repeating ground track orbits for a reusable launch vehicle
AssigneeBlue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
InventorsAdam Michael Wuerl, Quinn Robert White Kupec
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for a reusable space vehicle to land at substantially the same location as its launching site. The vehicle traveling in a particular orbit, which is a repeating ground track orbit, allows for launching and landing at the same location once per day. The repeating ground track orbits that allow for launching and landing at the same location once per day overfly the launch and landing site once per day. Launching and landing at the same site provides a number of direct advantages. For example, the just-landed vehicle may be transported a relatively short distance to the launch site, reconditioned relatively quickly, and be ready for a quick turn-around launch.
Claims18
A method of operating a space vehicle, the method comprising:
- launching the space vehicle from a launch site on Earth to a target orbit;
- maneuvering the space vehicle from the target orbit to a repeating ground track orbit, wherein the repeating ground track orbit has a defined inclination;
- performing propellant transfer operations while the space vehicle is in the repeating ground track orbit, the propellant transfer operations being configured to occur during one or more predetermined windows associated with the repeating ground track orbit;
- maneuvering the space vehicle to deorbit from the repeating ground track orbit;
- and
- landing the space vehicle at the launch site.
A system for operating a space vehicle, the system comprising:
- a propulsion system configured to i) launch the space vehicle from a launch site to a target orbit, and ii) maneuver the space vehicle from the target orbit to a repeating ground track orbit, wherein the repeating ground track orbit lies substantially over the launch site and is configured to periodically overfly the launch site;
- a propellant resource to facilitate a refueling operation while the space vehicle is in the repeating ground track orbit, wherein the refueling operation is configured to occur during one or more windows associated with the repeating ground track orbit and includes a rendezvous operation with an orbiting vehicle launched from Earth;
- and
- an operator configured to i) initiate deorbiting from the repeating ground track orbit during a phase of the repeating ground track orbit approaching the launch site, and ii) facilitate landing of the space vehicle at the launch site.
A method of operating a space vehicle, the method comprising:
- launching the space vehicle from a launch site on Earth to a target orbit;
- maneuvering the space vehicle from the target orbit to a repeating ground track orbit, wherein the repeating ground track orbit is configured to provide the space vehicle with a periodic window for landing at the launch site;
- maneuvering the space vehicle to deorbit from the repeating ground track orbit;
- and
- landing the space vehicle at the launch site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.