If the spacecraft is in an earth orbit and is to return, the spacecraft uses its remaining fuel to descend, bottom first, in a controlled manner. The top of spacecraft 200 is a spacecraft nose 218, which could house some type of spacecraft payload. 10 is a cutaway view of an alternate embodiment of the spacecraft of FIG. 3 and 4 show that frame 110 has an axial opening 118 situated between rocket systems 140. Aldrich, NASA s Access To Space Study, pp. Most rockets need to be supported for a few seconds after ignition while the engines build up to full thrust. The avionics system preferably includes data processing system 260, communications system 262, and a guidance and navigation system 264. To maneuver LAP 100, rocket engines 145 or the nozzles of rocket engines 145 may be gimballed at the point of attachment using conventional gimballing devices shown in FIG. 3,285,175. Although the LAP of this invention can be used at any altitude up to about 100,000 feet, or even higher depending on the size of the spacecraft being launched, the preferred altitude to launch the spacecraft from the LAP is 60,000 feet to 100,000 feet. The term launch pad can be used to describe just the central launch platform (mobile launcher platform), or the entire complex (launch complex). A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a plurality of shock absorbers located between said intersecting cables and said ground to provide resilient support to said grid upon impact of said spacecraft into said grid. 1 is a diagram of a preferred embodiment of the launch assist platform and spacecraft of this invention ready for launch; FIG. A reusable, single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft according to this invention comprises an outer structure having a squat cone shape and a rounded base with a recessed well; a guidance system for controlling the spacecraft; and a rocket engine, controlled by the guidance system, and aligned with the well in the base, to provide propulsion and braking for the spacecraft. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a plurality of shock absorbers interposed between said footings and said periphery of said grid. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BLUE SHIFT, LLC;REEL/FRAME:031194/0485. The first two GPS 3-series satellites launched in December 2018 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and last August aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 booster. Army, A New Kind of Ride, p. 32. 2 and 13, may be used to guide spacecraft 200 in space. When cradle 120 is an integral part of frame 110, cradle 120 is generally made of the same structural material as frame 110. First, the shuttle uses solid propellant booster rockets and a large expensive fuel tank for a takeoff. 9, pp. Russia: Russian Delta class submarines: Mobile 1998– 2 30 000 kg Orbital Spacecraft 200 enters the atmosphere base first, so base 210 receives much of the thermal load. 1 from below its frame; FIG. In shock absorber 360, a stainless steel coil spring 370 surrounds a tension member secured at one end to plate 382, which is in turn attached to support member 380. It was the first high-priority national security payload to launch on a SpaceX rocket, and it was also the first satellite in a new design of GPS spacecraft. FIG. The launch was originally scheduled for late April, but military officials delayed the flight two months to allow time for teams at a satellite operations center in Colorado to introduce and test new protocols to enable physical distancing between control consoles. 3. Adding the requirement that the vehicle return to earth and not disintegrate from the reentry heat makes the design task nearly impossible with today's technology.

One Belgian Air Force helicopter and... By A launch pad is distinct from a missile launch facility (or missile silo or missile complex), which also launches a missile vertically but is located underground in order to help harden it against enemy attack.

The Sea Launch video, made available on Web sites including YouTube.com, gave the impression that the entire launch platform was consumed by flame and must have sustained major damage. Cryogenic propellants (liquid oxygen oxidizer, and liquid hydrogen or liquid methane fuel) need to be continuously topped off (i.e., boil-off replaced) during the launch sequence (countdown), as the vehicle awaits liftoff. The number and size of rocket engines 145 depend on several factors, such as the size and weight of LAP 100 and spacecraft 200 and the type of fuel used by rocket systems 140. In addition, frame 110 can also receive the bottom of base 210 of spacecraft 200 in opening 118. 10 shows the two large tanks replaced by several smaller, elongated fuel tanks 270 and 272 positioned substantially perpendicular to base 210. In addition, LAP 100 can return back to the earth in a controlled descent to a spot at or near the launch site for refurbishing and reuse.

government authorization to proceed with the investigation “have been dealt with in an extremely positive way. This becomes particularly important as complex sequences may be interrupted by planned or unplanned holds to fix problems. The successful Long March 11 flight Tuesday marked the 27th orbital launch attempt by China so far this year. FIG. 6, each rocket system 140 has fuel tanks 148 in pod 143. Lauderdale said the military will allow launch service providers who win the the so-called “Phase 2” contracts to bid reused rockets for national security space launches in an effort to reduce costs. The present invention covers modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Spacecraft 200 preferably has a conventional avionics system for guidance and control. By Those figures also show an oxidizer tank 256 located above and adjacent propellant tank 255. Frame 110 holds several rocket systems 140 for propelling LAP 100 and spacecraft 200.

Propellant tanks 258 and 259 are reserve tanks for reentry. 17 is a diagram of a shock absorber in a preloaded position used with the landing device of FIG. One which does not is U.S. Pat. Rocket engines 145 reside in the lower section of pod 143.

There is a considerable and increasing need for some type of transportation system to launch satellites into space for various purposes, such as communications, weather forecasting, earth sensing, and microgravity research.

Instead, spacecraft 200 need only carry the fuel needed for final atmospheric escape and its return to earth. But Peckham said in a Feb. 2 interview that this is not the case. In addition, the avionics system could communicate with a data processing system 260 on spacecraft 200 to coordinate separation and, if desired, to communicate spacecraft signals to a ground station. Currently, space transportation uses multistage rockets that successively discard their lower stages. The alternate embodiment in FIG. Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the various figures of the drawings. “We had made no investment in this satellite, and it was not ours to insure,” SES Global spokesman Yves Feltes said Jan. 31.