US 5,564,648 AGranted

High altitude launch platform payload launching apparatus and method

AssigneeSpread Spectrum

InventorWilliam R. Palmer

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Abstract

A high altitude launch platform, used to launch a payload into earth orbit, is part of a payload launch system having a payload launching rocket with an engine carried by the high altitude launch platform. A first amount of fuel, substantially less than the capacity of the fuel tanks, is provided to the fuel tanks of the engines for the launch platform while the launch platform is on the ground. The launch platform is flown to a first altitude and the fuel tanks are provided with a second amount of fuel while the high altitude launch platform is at the first altitude. The addition of the second amount of fuel is sufficient to allow the payload to be launched into orbit.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of placing a payload into earth orbit, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a high altitude launch platform having a fuel-consuming propulsion system;
(b) fueling said high altitude launch platform with a quantity of fuel for operating said propulsion system that is less than the total quantity of fuel necessary to operate said propulsion system to fly said high altitude launch platform from the earth to a first altitude above the earth;
(b) flying said high altitude launch platform from a location on the earth to said first altitude above the earth;
and
(c) at said first altitude above the earth, refueling said high altitude launch platform from a fuel supply external to said high altitude launch platform with a further quantity of fuel that is sufficient to operate said propulsion system for flying said high altitude launch platform to a second altitude, higher than said first altitude, from which said payload is placed into earth orbit by a payload launch system therefor.

2 more elements

A method of placing a payload into earth orbit, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a quantity of fuel for operating a propulsion system of a high altitude launch platform, that is less than the total quantity of fuel necessary for said engine to propel said high altitude launch platform from the earth to a first altitude above the earth;
(b) flying a refueling platform from a location on the earth to said first altitude above the earth;
(c) flying said high altitude launch platform from a location on the earth to said first altitude above the earth;
and
(d) at said first altitude above the earth, performing in-flight refueling of said high altitude launch platform from said refueling platform, so as to refuel said high altitude launch platform with a further quantity of fuel that is sufficient to enable said propulsion system to propel said high altitude launch platform to a second altitude, higher than said first altitude, from which said payload is placed into earth orbit by a payload launch system therefor.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/504,261Filed 19 Jul 1995 · continuation
Priority: 8 Nov 1991
Granted: 15 Oct 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B64G 1/401
Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems: liquid propellant rocket engines
B64D 39/00
Refuelling during flight
B64G 1/005
Launch systems: air launch
B64G 1/14
Cosmonautic vehicles: space shuttles

Family

Serial789,672Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Nov 1991
Serial215,506Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Mar 1994
US 5,295,642 AParent of this continuation · filed 22 Mar 1994
US 5,456,424 AParent of this continuation · filed 10 Oct 1995
US 5,564,648 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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