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A space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system and method of using same is provided. The space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system includes a satellite having a control system configured to maintain an orbit in outer space around the earth and to deorbit the satellite on a desired traject

A space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system and method of using same is provided. The space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system includes a satellite having a control system configured to maintain an orbit in outer space around the earth and to deorbit the satellite on a desired trajectory corresponding to an earth based target upon a command, and a projectile object operably connected to the satellite. The projectile object includes a dense mass and a heat shield operably surrounding the mass such that at least a portion of the mass survives reentry into the earth's atmosphere and strikes the earth based target delivering its kinetic energy.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system, comprising: a weapon satellite having one or more thrusters and an onboard control system configured to maintain an orbit in outer space around the earth and to deorbit the weapon satellite using the one or more thrust

The invention claimed is: 1. A space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system, comprising: a weapon satellite having one or more thrusters and an onboard control system configured to maintain an orbit in outer space around the earth and to deorbit the weapon satellite using the one or more thrusters on a desired trajectory targeting an earth based location upon a command, wherein the command is communicated directly in real-time from an earth based location, and wherein minor adjustments are performed by the one or more thrusters controlled by control system such that the weapon satellite maintains the desired trajectory during reentry into the earth's atmosphere; and a projectile object operably connected to the weapon satellite, wherein the projectile object comprises a dense mass and a reentry heat shield operably surrounding the mass such that at least a portion of the mass survives the weapon satellite's reentry into the earth's atmosphere and strikes the earth based location delivering its kinetic energy; and the reentry heat shield is configured to protect the mass but not the weapon satellite. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the earth based location is destroyed through kinetic energy. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the weapon satellite includes an interior space surrounding the projectile object. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the projectile object is externally connected to the weapon satellite. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to adjust at least one of an orbital path and an orbital position of the weapon satellite. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mass comprises a spheroid of depleted Uranium 238. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the orbit comprises a geosynchronous orbit. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired trajectory is calculated by the control system of the weapon satellite. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the weapon satellite is deorbited by the thruster burned for a predetermined duration. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the weapon satellite is deorbited by one or more thrusters fired one or more times. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more thrusters are fired based on feedback during the deorbiting process. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired trajectory is communicated in real-time from the earth based location. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the mass in its entirety survives reentry into the earth's atmosphere. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the reentry heat shield comprises one or more tiles. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more tiles comprise one or more ceramic tiles. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the reentry heat shield is configured to protect the mass but not the weapon satellite. 17. A space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system, comprising: a plurality of weapon satellites, wherein each weapon satellite includes one or more thrusters and an onboard control system configured to maintain an orbit in outer space around the earth and to deorbit the weapon satellite on a desired trajectory targeting an earth based location upon a command, wherein the command is communicated in real-time from an earth based location to a selected weapon satellite, and wherein minor adjustments are performed by the one or more thrusters controlled by control system such that the selected weapon satellite maintains the desired trajectory during reentry into the earth's atmosphere; and a plurality of projectile objects, wherein each projectile object comprises a dense mass and a reentry heat shield operably surrounding the mass such that a substantial portion of the mass survives the weapon satellite's reentry into the earth's atmosphere and strikes the earth based location delivering its kinetic energy, each projectile object is operably connected to a corresponding one of the weapon satellites; and the reentry heat shield is configured to protect the mass but not the weapon satellite. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the earth based location is destroyed through kinetic energy. 19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a communication network, wherein at least one of the weapon satellites is in communication with at least one other weapon satellite over the communication network. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the command is communicated in real-time from an earth based location to a selected weapon satellite using one or more other weapon satellites over the communication network. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the selected weapon satellite is selected based on its proximity to the earth based location. 22. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one weapon satellite orbit is different from at least one other weapon satellite orbit. 23. The system of claim 17, wherein the reentry heat shield is configured to protect the mass but not the selected weapon satellite. 24. A space based orbital kinetic energy weapon system, comprising: a weapon satellite having an orbit in outer space around the earth, wherein the weapon satellite includes one or more thrusters; and a control system onboard the weapon satellite configured to deorbit the payload on a desired trajectory targeting an earth based location upon command, wherein the command is communicated directly in real-time from an earth based location, and wherein minor adjustments are performed by the one or more thrusters controlled by control system such that the weapon satellite maintains the desired trajectory during reentry into the earth's atmosphere; a plurality of projectile objects, wherein each projectile object is detachably connected to the weapon satellite, each projectile object comprises: a dense mass; and a reentry heat shield operably surrounding the mass, wherein the reentry heat shield is configured to survive the weapon satellite's reentry into the earth's atmosphere, and the projectile object is configured to strike the earth based location delivering its kinetic energy; and the reentry heat shield is configured to protect the mass but not the weapon satellite.