Space access system with reusable booster
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorAnthony D. Straw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A space access system may include a reusable booster limited to sub-orbital operation and having a fuselage. The reusable booster may include a tri-propellant propulsion system which may be configured to shift from a tri-propellant mode of operation to a bi-propellant mode of operation. The tri-propellant propulsion system may include at least one tri-propellant engine and at least one internal propellant tank mounted within the fuselage and being fluidly coupled to the tri-propellant engine. A payload may be mounted with the fuselage. The payload may have an upper stage.
Claims21
A space access system, comprising:
- a single-stage reusable booster having a fuselage and being configured to maintain sub-orbital operation and limited to performing a single orbit of a planetary body and no more, the reusable booster including wings for landing in a horizontal orientation back at a launch site after launching from the launch site;
- a tri-propellant propulsion system included with the reusable booster and configured to shift from a tri-propellant mode of operation to a bi-propellant mode of operation, the tri-propellant propulsion system including:
- at least one tri-propellant engine;
- and
- at least one internal propellant tank mounted within the fuselage and being fluidly coupled to the tri-propellant engine;
- and
- no more than one payload having an upper stage for inserting the payload into a payload orbit, the payload being mounted at least externally on the fuselage or internally within the fuselage.
A space access system for deployment of a payload into space, comprising:
- a sub-orbital single-stage reusable booster having wings and a tri-propellant propulsion system and being configured to maintain sub-orbital operation and limited to performing a single orbit and no more of a planetary body, the reusable booster including wings for landing in a horizontal orientation back at a launch site after launching from the launch site;
- and
- no more than one payload mounted externally on the reusable booster, the payload having an upper stage for inserting the payload into a payload orbit.
A method of operating a space access system, comprising the steps of:
- providing a reusable booster having a fuselage and a tri-propellant propulsion system including at least one tri-propellant engine and at least one internal propellant tank fluidly coupled to the tri-propellant engine, the reusable booster being limited to performing a single orbit of a planetary body and no more, and including wings for landing in a horizontal orientation back at a launch site;
- mounting a payload to the reusable booster;
- launching the reusable booster in a vertical orientation from a launch site of a planetary body;
- shifting the tri-propellant engine between a tri-propellant mode of operation and a bi-propellant mode of operation during launch of the reusable booster;
- encircling the planetary body a single time and no more during a once-around orbit of the planetary body;
- limiting the reusable booster to sub-orbital operation while encircling the planetary body during the once-around orbit of the planetary body;
- deploying the payload from the reusable booster;
- and
- landing the reusable booster in a horizontal orientation at a location adjacent to the launch site after payload deployment during the once-around orbit of the planetary body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.