Space transportation node including tether system
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B64G-001/28
B64G-001/24
출원번호
US-0232932
(2005-09-23)
등록번호
US-7503526
(2009-03-17)
발명자
/ 주소
Taylor,Thomas C.
Kistler,Walter P.
Citron,Robert A.
출원인 / 주소
Taylor,Thomas C.
Kistler,Walter P.
Citron,Robert A.
대리인 / 주소
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
5인용 특허 :
15
초록▼
A transportation node system orbits a celestial body. The node system includes a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body. The truss stores payloads. The node system also includes tether tips, each attached to one end of the truss via a te
A transportation node system orbits a celestial body. The node system includes a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body. The truss stores payloads. The node system also includes tether tips, each attached to one end of the truss via a tether so that each tether tip can extend from the truss and retract to the truss for transfer of payloads. The tether runs through the length of the truss and connects to each tether tip, each tether tip being capable of engaging payloads. The node further includes at least one tether cable reel that reels in and reels out the tether so the tether tips can extend from and retract to the truss.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A transportation node system that orbits a celestial body, the system comprising: a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body, the truss storing payloads; a plurality of tether tips, each attached to individual ends
What is claimed is: 1. A transportation node system that orbits a celestial body, the system comprising: a truss having two ends, the truss rotating around its center of mass while orbiting the celestial body, the truss storing payloads; a plurality of tether tips, each attached to individual ends of the truss via a tether so that each tether tip can extend from the truss and retract to the truss for transfer of payloads, the tether running through the length of the truss and connecting to each tether tip, each tether tip being capable of engaging payloads; and at least one tether cable reel that reels in and reels out the tether so the tether tips can extend from and retract to the truss. 2. The system of claim 1, having a mass at least fifteen times a sum of a mass of an average payload and a mass of a transportation craft. 3. The system of claim 1, in which the tether reel is inflatable so that when the tether reel is inflated a diameter of the tether reel increases enabling faster reeling. 4. The system of claim 1, in which each tether tip further comprises a tether tip frame attached to the truss via the tether, the tether tip frame comprising a storage section for storing payloads, and a secondary tether that engages payloads. 5. The system of claim 1, in which the transportation node system changes a center of mass by moving mass along the truss length. 6. The system of claim 1, in which the transportation node system changes a center of mass based upon irregular magnetic forces of the celestial body. 7. The system of claim 1, in which the transportation node system changes a center of mass based upon a diameter difference between the celestial body's poles and equator. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a payload elevator that transfers payloads within the system. 9. The system of claim 1, in which the truss further comprises an external tank (ET) truss that attaches to a plurality of salvaged external tanks, the ET truss attaching to aft solid rocket booster hard points of each salvaged ET, attaching to aft orbiter hardware attachment points of each salvaged ET, and attaching to forward solid rocket booster hard points of each salvaged ET. 10. The system of claim 9, in which at least one of the payloads comprises a moveable tank for storing cryogenic propellant, the propellant tank being enclosed by the ET and cooled by a cooling system, wherein propellant is stored without breaking a seal on the propellant tank. 11. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a rail gun, tower accelerator, forward velocity cart, rocket sled, and mass driver to match velocities at tether tip transfers at a surface of the celestial body and to minimize impact when a payload is transferred from one of the tether tips to the surface of the celestial body. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising tether sub nodes distributed along the tether, each sub node comprising detectors that detect severing of the tether, each sub node comprising propulsion and attitude control enabling a close sub node, which is nearest to the breaking point of the tether, to maneuver towards the breaking point of the tether, and each sub node comprising a tether reel for reeling in and reeling out the tether. 13. The system of claim 11, in which sub nodes on either side of the severed tether repair the severed tether by attaching to each other after the tether severs. 14. The system of claim 11, in which sub nodes on either side of the severed tether repair the severed tether by attaching to the tether at the severed end and restoring the severed tether to service. 15. The system of 1, further comprising a cross truss that extends along a cross truss axis that intersects with a long axis of the truss, the cross truss rotating around the long axis, the cross truss having a capability of engaging and disengaging payloads. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein a direction in which the payload travels is changed using the cross truss.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (15)
Taylor Thomas C. (P.O. Box 1547 Wrightwood CA 92397) Cerna Peter (2815 California ; #4 Dickinson TX 77539), Aerospike for attachment to space vehicle system.
Anderman, David; Muniz, Benigno, Method and apparatus for supplying orbital space platforms using payload canisters via intermediate orbital rendezvous and docking.
Chan Allan L. ; Connors James J. ; Epstein Kenneth W. ; Heath Robert M. ; Ogden Gene Spencer ; Prewitt Michael B. ; Wong Michael ; Szeto Edward W. ; Kennon David P. ; Vogel Michael J. ; Hsu Larry Y. , Orbital assist module and interstage.
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