Spacecraft with increased cargo capacities, and associated systems and methods

    公开(公告)号:US11565628B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-01-31

    申请号:US16370660

    申请日:2019-03-29

    申请人: Blue Origin, LLC

    摘要: A representative spacecraft system includes a launch vehicle elongated along a launch vehicle axis and having at least one stage carrying a corresponding rocket engine. The representative system further includes an annular support structure carried by the at least one stage and positioned to support a cargo spacecraft having a service module and a cargo module. The cargo module of the cargo spacecraft is positioned along the launch vehicle axis in a direction distal from the support structure, and at least a portion of the service module of the cargo spacecraft positioned within an annulus of the support structure.

    Cable wrap mechanism
    2.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11548663B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-01-10

    申请号:US16332857

    申请日:2016-12-29

    发明人: Shunichi Kawamura

    IPC分类号: H02G11/02 B64G1/42 H01B7/08

    摘要: A cable (130) includes an electrical wire band (134). A parallel electrical wire (133) is formed by arranging a pair of a first electrical wire (131) and a second electrical wire (132) without being twisted together. The electrical wire band is formed by arranging a plurality of parallel electrical wires in a lateral row. In addition, between two adjacent parallel electrical wires, a second electrical wire of one parallel electrical wire is arranged adjacently to a first electrical wire of the other parallel electrical wire. Further, the electrical wire band is wound and accommodated in a spiral spring shape in a cable wrap mechanism (100).

    DEVICE TRANSPORT BY AIR
    3.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220332439A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-20

    申请号:US17627652

    申请日:2020-09-16

    IPC分类号: B64G1/00 B64G1/42 B64G5/00

    摘要: The invention relates to an aerial transport device by means of connections with supply lines and cables for the transport of electricity, liquids and goods, at the limit of the atmospheres of the planets, in areas with low gravitational attraction, so that the flight can take place in the formation. The aerial transport device by means of flight devices (A, A1n, B, Bn, A4) that are in motion and connected between them, characterized in that the system can supply (P1) and simultaneously transport physical objects, liquids, and energy (P) to and from the outer space of dense atmospheres (D) and to reach the maximum limit of the environment density suitable for space flight devices (A3) with aerodynamic load as well as for horizontal air transport (A4, A2, P, An, A3). The invention is technical device for transporting in space with flying devices and move in formation flight of at least three forming connections.

    Spherical mobility system
    4.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US11420777B1

    公开(公告)日:2022-08-23

    申请号:US16746699

    申请日:2020-01-17

    摘要: A rover can include a spherical shall and an avionics hub. The spherical shell defines a spherical volume and having an inner surface and an outer surface. The avionics hub is disposed within the spherical volume. The avionics hub includes an avionics shell, a data acquisition unit, and a plurality of motortrain assemblies. The avionics shell is disposed with the spherical volume of the spherical shell. The data acquisition unit is disposed within the avionics shell. Each motortrain assembly includes a motorized wheel extending at least partially through the avionics shell and in contact with the inner surface of the spherical shell, the plurality of motortrain assemblies configured to rotate the spherical shell relative to the avionics shell to move the rover.

    PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR SATELLITES
    5.
    发明申请

    公开(公告)号:US20220204188A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-30

    申请号:US17499634

    申请日:2021-10-12

    摘要: A satellite includes a housing, a circuit board containing circuitry, a battery electrically connected to the circuit board, a tank, an expandable balloon disposed in the tank, a heater, a valve providing liquid communication between the tank and the heater when in an open position and providing no liquid communication between the tank and the heater when in a closed position, and a nozzle having an orifice in liquid communication with the heater. Operating the satellite includes partially filling the expandable balloon with a gas, loading liquid fuel into the tank, launching the satellite into space, opening the valve to cause the liquid fuel from the tank to pass into the heater under pressure provided by the gas in the expandable balloon, activating the heater to heat and vaporize the liquid fuel into a fuel vapor, and expelling the fuel vaper out of the nozzle.

    RECONFIGURABLE POWER PROCESSING UNIT FOR SPACECRAFT OPERATIONS

    公开(公告)号:US20220194634A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-06-23

    申请号:US17442442

    申请日:2019-06-03

    发明人: Erich H. Soendker

    IPC分类号: B64G1/42 B64G1/40 F03H1/00

    摘要: A reconfigurable power processing unit for a spacecraft including a plurality of power modules. Each of the power modules includes a first power source and a second power source. The first power source and the second power source are configured to be in series in a first state and in parallel in a second state. A plurality of contactors connect each power module to at least one of another power module in the plurality of power modules and a power processing output and are configured to control the state of the power modules.

    RETURN TO BASE SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

    公开(公告)号:US20220017242A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-01-20

    申请号:US17290699

    申请日:2019-11-05

    摘要: A stage for a space launch vehicle is provided. The space launch vehicle has a main body including a first end and a second end, and defines a central longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The stage comprises a stage rocket engine arranged at or near the first end of the stage to propel the launch vehicle vertically upwards at take-off. The stage furthermore comprises a plurality of fans for providing lift during a landing procedure of the stage, wherein the fans have a rotational axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Also provided are space launch vehicles and methods for transporting a payload into space.