John Acree Porter
Engineers at Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA

5201832, Apr 13, 1993

Mar 23, 1992

7/855398

John W. Porter - San Diego CA
Paul H. Sager - Rancho Santa Fe CA

General Dynamics Corporation, Space Systems Division - San Diego CA

B64G 100

244158R

The purpose integrated aerospike rocket engine and space vehicle aerobrake is to provide for optimum installation and performance of these systems in a space vehicle. By integrating the aerospike engine into the middle of the aerobrake, the engine can be located with its center of gravity toward the face of the aerobrake. This location permits the maximization of the displacement of the aerodynamic center of pressure of the aerobrake relative to the center of gravity of the space vehicle, thereby maximizing the stability of the vehicle upon aerodynamic capture at the earth or another planet. By substituting an aerospike rocket engine for a conventional bell nozzle engine, the doors required to close the aperture in the aerobrake to accommodate the conventional engines can be eliminated. In addition to the unique combination of the aero-spike engine and the aerobrake, an included unique feature of the invention is the extendable nozzle plug. By extending the plug, the annular combustion nozzle of the aerospike engine is closed, thereby, eliminating the lip which would otherwise extend into the airstream and present extreme heating problems.

5305970, Apr 26, 1994

Jan 12, 1993

8/003163

John W. Porter - San Diego CA
William A. Johns - Poway CA
David A. Caudle - San Diego CA

General Dynamics Corporation, Space Systems Division - San Diego CA

B64G 100, B64G 164

244159

A centrifugal propellant depot positioned in outer space for storing and transferring cryogenic liquid propellants to and from transfer space vehicles which are adapted to transport cryogenic liquid propellants to the depot to receive the liquid propellants stored in the depot. The depot includes a plurality of contra-rotatable torus-shaped hollow storage tanks adapted to receive cryogenic liquid oxygen and hydrogen propellants that are carried in gas/liquid phase separation by rotational gravity. Transport rail members transversely bridge the storage tanks. A central docking hub is coupled to the transport rail members and disposed centrally of the rotating storage tanks. The docking hub may receive a transfer space vehicle on either of two opposing sides of the hub for transfer, via a transfer vehicle coupled to the rail members, outwardly to the storage tanks. The space vehicle may be flipped from an inwardly reclining position for draining of the liquid propellant into a storage tank outwardly to a position for receiving liquid propellant from a storage tank. A radially movable counterweight is also coupled to the rail members for movement as the space vehicle is carried by the transfer vehicle and transfer of liquid propellant is accomplished to ensure that the center of gravity of the depot is maintained at the central docking hub for gyroscopic stability.