Aerospike for attachment to space vehicle system
OwnerThomas C. Taylor, Peter Cernainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aerospike is adapted to be attached to the front nose of an aerodynamically asymmetric space vehicle system, such as the external tank and orbiter of the space shuttle. The aerospike basically comprises a tapered elongated portion having a first end which is adapted to be attached to the nose of the space vehicle, and a second free end terminating in a substantially rounded disc-like tip member. Use of the spike reduces aerodynamic heating and drag during ascent of the space vehicle into its orbital position, provides an attachment point for tether operations and for propellant recovery, and permits transportion of an external tank into its orbit.
Claims19
An aerospike adapted to be attached to a nose of an aerodynamically asymmetrical space vehicle system, said aerospike comprising an elongated portion having a first end adapted to be attached to said nose and a second end distant from said nose, said aerospike further comprising a disc-shaped tip member with a substantially curved front surface which is integrally formed with said second end of said elongated portion, said elongated portion being rigid and comprising means for attaching said vehicle system to another object in space, said system further comprising a tether cord attached to said disc-shaped tip member, said tether cord and said tip together comprising means for attaching said vehicle system to another object in space, said elongated portion and said disc-shaped tip member together comprising means for reducing aerodynamic drag of said asymmetrical space vehicle system to which said aerospike is adapted to be attached during ascent of said vehicle into an orbital position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.