Deployable Fairing For Rideshare Satellites
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorJames Eric Kline
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are various improvements to launch vehicle payload systems, such as employed to launch and deploy secondary payloads into orbit. In one example, a system includes a fairing configured to encase a payload within an envelope of a primary fairing of a launch vehicle, and a mount system configured to adapt a mounting port for the payload to a mounting port associated with the launch vehicle. The system also includes a fairing door configured to be commanded open for deployment of the payload after the primary fairing has open.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a fairing configured to encase a payload within an envelope of a primary fairing of a launch vehicle;
- a mount system configured to adapt a mounting port for the payload to a mounting port associated with the launch vehicle;
- and
- a fairing door configured to be commanded open for deployment of the payload after the primary fairing has open.
A secondary payload system for a launch system, comprising:
- a fairing structure configured to provide an internal environment for a secondary payload separate from that of a primary fairing of the launch system;
- an internal mount interface configured to couple to the secondary payload;
- an external mount interface configured to couple to a payload port of a payload rideshare structure of the launch system;
- and
- a door configured to open for deployment of the secondary payload.
A launch system payload apparatus, comprising:
- a fairing means for providing an internal environment for a secondary payload separate from that of a primary fairing of a launch system;
- a first mounting means for securing the secondary payload in the fairing means;
- a second mounting means for coupling the fairing to the launch system;
- and
- a deployment means for deploying the secondary payload from the fairing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.