Orbital Research Partners, L.p.

George W Salt

Frank L Byers

James R McCandless

A lightweight cradle apparatus for supporting payloads such as an upper stage and a mated spacecraft in the cargo bay of a reusable space vehicle like the orbiter used in the NASA Space Transportation System. The cradle apparatus provides support for the payload during launch, abort, and landing of the orbiter and deployment of the payload. The cradle apparatus comprises a forward cradle and an aft cradle that are connected by longitudinal support members. The forward cradle comprises two radial sections joined by a hinge and by a latch, the aft cradle consists of an aft cradle disc and an aft cradle adapter assembly, each longitudinal support member consists of two longitudinal links. The links are joined together at the forward end where they connect to the forward cradle and the links are separated at the aft end by a spacer and connect to the aft cradle. The cradle apparatus transfers loads to the orbiter by means of a keel pin and trunnion connections. The payload is deployed in space by opening the cargo bay doors, unlatching the latch on the forward cradle, rotating the upper section of the forward cradle about the hinge, and rotating the aft cradle and the payload to the launch position for the payload.

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Highlands Ranch, CO, United States of America

George W Salt