US5094409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of providing a lunar habitat from an external tank
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1990-05-09
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2010-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A lunar habitat is provided by placing an external tank of an orbiter in a low Earth orbit where the hydrogen tank is separated from the intertank and oxygen tank which form a base structure. The base structure is then outfitted with an air lock, living quarters, a thermal control system, an environmental control and life support system, and a propulsion system. After the mounting of an outer sheath about the base structure to act as a micrometeoroid shield, the base structure is propelled to a soft landing on the moon. The sheath is mounted at a distance from the base structure to provide a space therebetween which is filled with regolith after landing. Conveniently, a space station is used to outfit the base structure. Various elements of the oxygen tank and intertank are used in outfitting.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles B. King
- 👤 Warren D. Hypes
- 👤 Lisa C. Simonsen
- 👤 Ansel J. Butterfield
- 👤 John E. Nealy
- 👤 John B. Hall, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:10
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/60; B64G1/10; B64G1/12; B64G1/40; B64G1/402; B64G1/4021; B64G1/002; B64G1/105; B64G1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat comprising the steps of: placing an external tank of an orbiter in a low Earth orbit, the external tank comprising a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, and an intertank which connects the hydrogen and oxygen tanks together; separating the hydrogen tank from the intertank and oxygen tank which together form a base structure; outfitting the base structure with an air lock, living quarters, a thermal control system, an environmental and life support system, and a propulsion system; mounting an outer sheath about the base structure to act as a micrometeoroid shield; and propelling the base structure to a soft landing on the moon using the outfitted propulsion system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat comprising the steps of: placing an external tank of an orbiter in a low Earth orbit, the external tank comprising a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, and an intertank which connects the hydrogen and oxygen tanks together; separating the hydrogen tank from the intertank and oxygen tank which together form a base structure; outfitting the base structure with an air lock, living quarters, a thermal control system, an environmental and life support system, and a propulsion system; mounting an outer sheath about the base structure to act as a micrometeoroid shield; and propelling the base structure to a soft landing on the moon using the outfitted propulsion system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting step mounts the sheath at a distance from the base structure to provide a space therebetween; and further including the step of filling the space with regolith after landing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 and further including the step of moving the base structure to a higher Earth orbit before the outfitting step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 3 wherein a space station is provided at the higher Earth orbit; and further including the step of docking the base structure to the space station before the outfitting step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 4 wherein the oxygen tank is provided with a manhole at a forward tip thereof and the space station is provided with a resource node; and wherein the docking step includes the berthing of the oxygen tank to the resource node to provide access through the manhole to the interior of the oxygen tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 5 wherein the space station includes an environmental control and life support module connected to the resource node; and further including the step of supplying a habitable atmosphere to the interior of the oxygen tank from the module during outfitting of the interior.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said separating step includes the step of venting the oxygen tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 7 wherein the separating step includes deactivation of a tumble valve system of the external tank, and removing of an explosive charge of a range-safety system from the external tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the separating step further includes the step of moving the hydrogen tank to a higher Earth orbit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outfitting step includes the step of attaching sandwich panel flooring to opposite longitudinal portions of a slosh baffle of the oxygen tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein panel flooring for a floor is comprised of a plurality of foldable pieces, and wherein said outfitting step includes the steps of folding each piece, passing each piece through a manhole of the oxygen tank, and then unfolding each piece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for providing a lunar habitat as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outfitting step includes the steps of providing a door in the intertank and joining the air lock between the door in the intertank and an aft manhole of the oxygen tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US4132373A
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US4122991A
Cited
US4807833A
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US4964597A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-09-09 | 1996-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-10 | 1999-09-09 | 2000-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-10 | 2003-09-09 | 2004-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |