Martin Marietta Corporation

Robert K Dockstader, Jr

James Paul Foley

Ernest R Jones

A lift vehicle has an elongated support structure affixed to its upper end, with the axis of elongation of the support structure parallel to or coincident with the longitudinal axis of the lift vehicle. The support structure defines a plurality of attachment planes, each of which includes the axis of elongation, which together divide the region about the axis of elongation into N angular sections or regions, each with an included angle of 360.degree./N. A plurality MN of spacecraft are organized into a plurality of M sets or layers, each containing N spacecraft. Each spacecraft defines first and second lateral support planes, skewed relative to each other, which intersect at a line of intersection, is parallel to the axis of elongation when the spacecraft are mounted to the support structure. Two or more spacecraft are mounted in end-to-end position in each angular portion. Each spacecraft stiffens the support structure, so that the stiffened support structure, can sustain the launch forces. Spacecraft of upper layers do not bear on lower layers. Controllable attachments hold the first and second lateral support planes of each spacecraft adjacent to the attachment planes defined by the support structure.

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Morrisville, PA, United States of America

Robert K Dockstader, Jr