The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1998
Applicant:
Inventors:
George E Mueller, Kirkland, WA (US);
David B Cochran, Bellevue, WA (US);
Assignee:
Kistler Aerospace Corporation, Kirkland, WA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B64G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
2441 / ; 2441181 ; 2441294 ;
Abstract
A payload module couples to a forward end of a re-entry vehicle. The payload module includes a cap and a fairing to contain a payload during ascent of the vehicle and to withstand aerodynamic heating from the atmosphere upon re-entry of the vehicle. In a particular embodiment, the fairing has an extended position to contain the payload and a retracted position for re-entry into the atmosphere after payload deployment.