KENNETH HAROLD BARNES
Pilots at Marys Crk Dr, Fort Worth, TX

6616092, Sep 9, 2003

Jun 24, 2002

10/178428

Kenneth H. Barnes - Fort Worth TX
William M. Butler - Highlands Ranch CO
Paul E. Hagseth - Forth Worth TX

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

B64C 3702

244 2, 244158 R, 244172, 244 63, 244160

According to one embodiment of the invention, a rocket booster for launching a payload into space includes a fuselage adapted to support one or more fuel tanks inside the fuselage and a booster engine coupled to an aft portion of the fuselage. The booster engine is operable to provide thrust during an ascent phase of operation of the rocket booster. The rocket booster further includes a nacelle coupled to a forward portion of the fuselage and a flyback engine disposed within and coupled to the nacelle. The flyback engine is operable to provide thrust during a flyback phase of operation of the rocket booster. The rocket booster also includes one or more control surfaces coupled to the fuselage that are operable to control a flight pattern of the rocket booster during the flyback phase of operation. The flyback engine of the rocket booster is located forward of an aerodynamic center of the rocket booster.