초록 ▼

An apparatus for transporting a spacecraft and fluid propellant from the earth to a substantially low gravity environment above the earth with substantially reduced loading of the spacecraft due to forces upon the fluid propellant during the transport, the apparatus including a vehicle for carrying

An apparatus for transporting a spacecraft and fluid propellant from the earth to a substantially low gravity environment above the earth with substantially reduced loading of the spacecraft due to forces upon the fluid propellant during the transport, the apparatus including a vehicle for carrying the spacecraft and the fluid propellant from the earth to a substantially low gravity environment above the earth; a plurality of external tanks disposed within the vehicle, external to the spacecraft, for containing the fluid propellant as the vehicle carries the spacecraft and the fluid propellant from the earth to the substantially low gravity environment above the earth; a plurality of spacecraft tanks disposed within the spacecraft for receiving the fluid propellant and for containing the fluid propellant; and means for transferring the fluid propellant from the external tanks the spacecraft tanks in the substantially low gravity environment above the earth.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for transporting a spacecraft and fluid propellant from the earth to a substantially low gravity orbital environment above the earth, comprising: a vehicle for carrying said spacecraft and said fluid propellant from the earth to said substantially low gravity orbital environment above t

An apparatus for transporting a spacecraft and fluid propellant from the earth to a substantially low gravity orbital environment above the earth, comprising: a vehicle for carrying said spacecraft and said fluid propellant from the earth to said substantially low gravity orbital environment above the earth; first means disposed within said vehicle, external to said spacecraft, for containing said fluid propellent as said vehicle carries said spacecraft and said fluid propellant from the earth to said substantially low gravity orbital environment above the earth; second means within said spacecraft for receiving said fluid propellant and for containing said fluid propellant; said second means being substantially empty of fluid propellant during transport of said spacecraft and said fluid propellant from the earth to said substantially low gravity orbital environment above the earth; and third means for transferring said fluid propellant from said first means to said second means in a substantially low gravity orbital environment above the earth.