Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
REUSABLE ORBITAL VEHICLE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE MODULES |
| Document Number: |
20100051751 |
| Publication Date: |
March 4, 2010 |
| Appl. No: |
12/615892 |
| Application Filed: |
November 10, 2009 |
| Abstract: |
A reusable module is affixed atop a reusable orbital vehicle (OV). Various configurations of the reusable module have identical external dimensions in the region of attachment to the OV, aerodynamic characteristics, and mounting configurations to permit interchangeability. Different configurations can accommodate a variety of missions of different type and duration. The module may be a cargo module, a satellite payload module or a passenger module. The passenger module is provided in a variety of configurations to accommodate a different number of passengers and cargo based on mission parameters. |
| Inventors: |
Mueller, George E. (Kirkland, WA, US); Kohrs, Richard H. (Kirkland, WA, US); Misterek, Dean L. (Seattle, WA, US); Cochran, David B. (Duvall, WA, US); Duncan, William B. (Kirkland, WA, US); Limerick, Charles D. (Issaquah, WA, US) |
| Claim: |
1. A reusable passenger module system, comprising: a reusable orbital vehicle (OV) having a first end and a second end; a propulsion system mounted to the OV interior portion proximate the second end; and a passenger module configured for use in a plurality of cycles of launch, orbital operation and re-entry, the passenger module being removably coupled to the OV first end; and a plurality of passenger seats mounted within an interior portion of the passenger module. |
| Claim: |
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an automatic guidance system on the OV to thereby eliminate passenger control of the OV. |
| Claim: |
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the passenger module comprises sidewalls to define an interior portion, the system further comprising a deck plate coupled to the sidewalls with the passenger seats being coupled to the deck plate. |
| Claim: |
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the passenger module comprises sidewalls to define an interior portion, the system further comprising first and second spaced apart deck plates coupled to the sidewalls with at least a portion of the passenger seats being coupled to the first deck plate and at least a portion of the passenger seats being coupled to the second deck plate. |
| Claim: |
5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the passenger module to permit docking of the passenger module to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the orbiting object is a space station having a predetermined space station docking mechanism, the docking mechanism being configured to permit coupling of the passenger module to the space station docking mechanism. |
| Claim: |
7. The system of claim 5 wherein the passenger seats are within a pressurized environment and the docking mechanism is configured to provide a pressurized passageway between the pressurized environment and the space station. |
| Claim: |
8. The system of claim 5 wherein a passenger module coupling end is coupled to the OV first end, the system further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module opposite the coupling end and having a closed position and an open position, the docking mechanism being positioned intermediate the interior portion of the passenger module and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the docking mechanism being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a window in a portion of the passenger module. |
| Claim: |
10. The system of claim 9 wherein a passenger module coupling end is coupled to the OV first end, the system further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module opposite the coupling end and having a closed position and an open position, the window being positioned intermediate the interior portion of the passenger module and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the window being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
11. The system of claim 1 wherein a passenger module coupling end is coupled to the OV first end, the system further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module opposite the coupling end, the nosecap having a closed position and an open position. |
| Claim: |
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hatchway in a sidewall portion of the passenger module to permit access to the interior portion of the passenger module. |
| Claim: |
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the passenger seats are moveably mounted in the interior portion of the passenger module and have a launch orientation and a re-entry orientation. |
| Claim: |
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the launch orientation positions the passenger seats to face away from the OV first end. |
| Claim: |
15. The system of claim 13 wherein the re-entry orientation positions the passenger seats to face toward the OV first end. |
| Claim: |
16. The system of claim 1 wherein the passenger module comprises sidewalls to define an interior portion, the system further comprising a hatch in the sidewall portion to provide access to the interior portion. |
| Claim: |
17. A reusable passenger module, comprising: a substantially cylindrical sidewall having first and second spaced apart ends, the sidewall first end configured for removable attachment to an orbital vehicle (OV); a first passenger compartment wall coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first and second sidewall ends; a second passenger compartment wall coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first passenger compartment wall and the sidewall second end, the region between the first and second passenger compartment walls defining a passenger compartment; and a plurality of passenger seats mounted within the passenger compartment. |
| Claim: |
18. The module of claim 17 wherein the first and second passenger compartment walls are configured to form a pressurized passenger compartment. |
| Claim: |
19. The module of claim 17, further comprising a deck plate coupled to the sidewall within the passenger compartment, the passenger seats being coupled to the deck plate. |
| Claim: |
20. The module of claim 17, further comprising first and second spaced apart deck plates coupled to the sidewall within the passenger compartment with at least a portion of the passenger seats being coupled to the first deck plate and at least a portion of the passenger seats being coupled to the second deck plate. |
| Claim: |
21. The module of claim 17, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the second passenger compartment wall to permit docking of the passenger module to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
22. The module of claim 21 wherein the first and second passenger compartment walls are configured to form a pressurized passenger compartment and the docking mechanism is configured to provide a pressurized passageway between the pressurized passenger compartment and the orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
23. The module of claim 21, further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module at the second sidewall end and having a closed position and an open position, the second passenger compartment wall being positioned intermediate the passenger compartment and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the docking mechanism being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
24. The module of claim 17, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first and second passenger compartment walls to permit docking of the passenger module to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
25. The module of claim 17, further comprising a window in the second passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
26. The module of claim 25, further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module at the second sidewall end and having a closed position and an open position, the second passenger compartment wall being positioned intermediate the passenger compartment and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the window being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
27. The module of claim 17, further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module at the second sidewall end, the nosecap having a closed position and an open position. |
| Claim: |
28. The module of claim 17 wherein the passenger seats are moveably mounted in the interior portion of the passenger module and have a launch orientation and a re-entry orientation. |
| Claim: |
29. The module of claim 28 wherein the launch orientation positions the passenger seats to face toward the second passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
30. The module of claim 28 wherein the re-entry orientation positions the passenger seats to face toward the first passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
31. The module of claim 17 wherein the first passenger compartment wall is coupled to the sidewall at a location spaced apart from the first end to define an equipment area. |
| Claim: |
32. The module of claim 31 wherein equipment area is unpressurized. |
| Claim: |
33. The module of claim 31, further comprising an oxygen storage tank mounted in the equipment area. |
| Claim: |
34. The module of claim 31, further comprising an avionics package mounted in the equipment area. |
| Claim: |
35. The module of claim 17, further comprising a coupling portion at the sidewall first end to removably couple the passenger module to the OV. |
| Claim: |
36. The module of claim 35 wherein the coupling portion comprises explosive bolts to permit separation of the passenger module from the OV. |
| Claim: |
37. The module of claim 17, further comprising a parachute assembly coupled to the passenger module. |
| Claim: |
38. The module of claim 17 wherein the first and second passenger compartment walls are removably coupled to the sidewalls, the module further comprising passenger compartment sidewalls fixedly coupled to the first and second passenger compartment walls, the passenger compartment being formed within the first and second passenger compartment walls and the passenger compartment sidewall. |
| Claim: |
39. The module of claim 38 wherein the passenger compartment is configured for extraction from the passenger module. |
| Claim: |
40. The module of claim 39, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the first passenger compartment wall to permit docking of the passenger compartment with an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
41. A reusable module rocket system, comprising: a reusable orbital vehicle (OV) having a first end and a second end; a propulsion system mounted to the OV interior portion proximate the second end; and a plurality of reusable modules, each having a substantially cylindrical sidewall having first and second spaced apart ends, the sidewall first end having substantially identical dimensions and configured for interchangeable attachment to the OV. |
| Claim: |
42. The system of claim 41, further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module at the second sidewall end, the nosecap having a closed position and an open position. |
| Claim: |
43. The system of claim 41 wherein the plurality of modules comprise a passenger module, a cargo module and a satellite payload delivery module. |
| Claim: |
44. The system of claim 43 wherein the cargo module comprises a standard length cargo module and an extended length cargo module. |
| Claim: |
45. The system of claim 43 wherein the passenger module further comprises: a first passenger compartment wall coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first and second sidewall ends; a second passenger compartment wall coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first passenger compartment wall and the sidewall second end, the region between the first and second passenger compartment walls defining a passenger compartment; and each of the plurality of passenger modules having a different interior configuration and a different number of passenger seats mounted within the passenger compartment. |
| Claim: |
46. The system of claim 45, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the second passenger compartment wall to permit docking of a selected one of the plurality of passenger modules to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
47. The system of claim 46, further comprising a moveable nosecap on the selected one of the plurality of passenger modules at the second sidewall end and having a closed position and an open position, the second passenger compartment wall being positioned intermediate the passenger compartment and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the docking mechanism being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
48. The system of claim 45, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first and second passenger compartment walls to permit docking of a selected one of the plurality of passenger modules to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
49. The system of claim 45, further comprising a window in the second passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
50. The system of claim 49, further comprising a moveable nosecap on the passenger module at the second sidewall end and having a closed position and an open position, the second passenger compartment wall being positioned intermediate the passenger compartment and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the window being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
51. The system of claim 45 wherein the passenger seats are moveably mounted in the interior portion of the passenger module and have a launch orientation and a re-entry orientation. |
| Claim: |
52. The system of claim 51 wherein the launch orientation positions the passenger seats to face toward the second passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
53. The system of claim 51 wherein the re-entry orientation positions the passenger seats to face toward the first passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
54. The system of claim 41 wherein a selected one of the plurality of reusable modules is a passenger module comprising: first and second passenger compartment walls; and a passenger sidewall intermediate the first and second passenger compartment walls, the first and second passenger compartment walls and the passenger compartment sidewall configured to form a pressurized passenger compartment interior. |
| Claim: |
55. The system of claim 54, further comprising a docking mechanism coupled to the second passenger compartment wall to permit docking of the passenger module to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
56. The system of claim 55, further comprising a moveable nosecap coupled to the sidewall on the passenger module and having a closed position and an open position, the second passenger compartment wall being positioned intermediate the passenger compartment interior and the nosecap when the nosecap is in the closed position, the docking mechanism being exposed to an environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
57. A method of operating a reusable passenger module system, comprising: selecting one of a plurality of passenger modules, each of the plurality of passenger modules having a substantially cylindrical sidewall having first and second spaced apart ends, the sidewall first end having substantially identical dimensions and configured for interchangeable attachment to an orbital vehicle (OV); each of the plurality of passenger modules having a first passenger compartment wall coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first and second sidewall ends; each of the plurality of passenger modules having a second passenger compartment wall coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first passenger compartment wall and the sidewall second end, the region between the first and second passenger compartment walls defining a passenger compartment; each of the plurality of passenger modules having a different interior configuration and a different number of passenger seats mounted within the passenger compartment; and mounting the selected one of the plurality of passenger modules to the OV. |
| Claim: |
58. The method of claim 57 wherein the passenger seats are moveably mounted in the interior portion of the passenger module, the method further comprising positioning the passenger seats in a launch orientation wherein the passenger seats face toward the second passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
59. The method of claim 58, further comprising placing the OV and attached passenger module in orbit. |
| Claim: |
60. The method of claim 57, further comprising docking a selected one of the plurality of passenger modules to an orbiting object using a docking mechanism coupled to the second passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
61. The method of claim 60, further comprising positioning a moveable nosecap from a closed position to an open position when in an environment of space, the nosecap covering the docking mechanism when in the closed position and exposing the docking mechanism to the environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
62. The method of claim 57, further comprising docking a selected one of the plurality of passenger modules to an orbiting object using a docking mechanism coupled to the sidewall intermediate the first and second passenger compartment walls. |
| Claim: |
63. The method of claim 57, further comprising providing a window useable by passengers in the passenger compartment. |
| Claim: |
64. The method of claim 63, further comprising positioning a moveable nosecap from a closed position to an open position when in an environment of space, the nosecap covering the window when in the closed position and exposing the window to the environment of space when the nosecap is in the open position. |
| Claim: |
65. The method of claim 57 wherein the passenger seats are moveably mounted in the interior portion of the passenger module, the method further comprising positioning the passenger seats in a re-entry orientation wherein the passenger seats face toward the first passenger compartment wall. |
| Claim: |
66. The method of claim 65, further comprising landing the reusable OV and attached passenger module. |
| Claim: |
67. The method of claim 57, further comprising: placing the OV and selected one of the plurality of passenger modules in orbit; landing the OV and selected one of the plurality of passenger modules; selecting a different one of the plurality of passenger modules; mounting the selected different one of the plurality of passenger modules to the OV; and placing the OV and the selected different one of the plurality of passenger modules in orbit. |
| Claim: |
68. The method of claim 67 wherein the passenger compartment walls are removably coupled to the sidewalls, the method further comprising extracting the passenger compartment from the passenger module. |
| Claim: |
69. The method of claim 68, further comprising coupling the extracted passenger compartment to an orbiting object. |
| Claim: |
70. The method of claim 68, further comprising leaving the extracted passenger compartment in orbit. |
| Claim: |
71. The method of claim 68, further comprising reattaching the extracted passenger compartment to the passenger module prior to reentry. |
| Current U.S. Class: |
2441/589 |
| Current International Class: |
64; 64; 64; 64; 64; 64 |
| Accession Number: |
edspap.20100051751 |
| Database: |
USPTO Patent Applications |
