US3866863A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Space vehicle
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1974-03-21
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1994-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A space vehicle having an improved ascent configuration for use in traveling in space including a winged orbiter having an elongated fuselage and rearwardly directed main engines fixed to the fuselage, and an elongated tank assembly of an improved configuration disposed forwardly of the fuselage and connected with the main engines of the vehicle for supplying thereto liquid propellants, and a booster stage comprising a pair of integrated solid rocket boosters connected with the orbiter immediately beneath the fuselage and extended in substantial parallelism therewith.
Inventors
- 👤 Pragenau George L Von
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:26
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A space vehicle having an improved ascent configuration adapted to be launched from the earth''s surface comprising: A. an orbiter having re-entry capabilities including an elongated fuselage and a rearwardly directed liquid rocket engine fixed to said fuselage; B. an external tank of an elongated configuration disposed forwardly of said fuselage and connected with said rocket engine for supplying thereto liquid propellants; C. an expendable booster stage for propelling said vehicle including a pair of solid rocket boosters disposed beneath said fuselage and extended in substantial parallelism therewith; and D. connecting means for releasably connecting said external tank and said booster stage with said orbiter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A space vehicle having an improved ascent configuration adapted to be launched from the earth''s surface comprising: A. an orbiter having re-entry capabilities including an elongated fuselage and a rearwardly directed liquid rocket engine fixed to said fuselage; B. an external tank of an elongated configuration disposed forwardly of said fuselage and connected with said rocket engine for supplying thereto liquid propellants; C. an expendable booster stage for propelling said vehicle including a pair of solid rocket boosters disposed beneath said fuselage and extended in substantial parallelism therewith; and D. connecting means for releasably connecting said external tank and said booster stage with said orbiter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said external tank includes a hydrogen tank for confining hydrogen in a liquefied state and an oxygen tank for confining oxygen in a liquefied state, said oxygen tank being disposed between said orbiter and said hydrogen tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the included angle defined by a line extended through the thrust center of the liquid engine and the mass center for the system at lift-off and the longitudinal axis of symmetry for said system is an angle of less than 20*.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the included angle defined by a line extended through the thrust center of the liquid engine and the mass center of the system at lift-off, and a line extended through the thrust center of the liquid engine and the mass center at external tank burn-out is less than 14*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the mass center for said system at booster burn-out lies in a plane passing transversely through the longitudinal axis of symmetry for said system forwardly of said orbiter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 2 wherein a pair of lines passing through the center of thrust for said booster and the mass center of said system at lift-off defines an included angle of less than 28*.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3232560A
Cited
US3702688A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |