Patent ID: 11945406
Assignee: BLUE ORIGIN, LLC
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A spacecraft device, comprising:
an annular support structure fixedly coupleable to at least one stage of a launch vehicle that is elongated along a launch vehicle axis, the annular support structure being positionable to releasably support a cargo spacecraft, the cargo spacecraft having:
a propulsion section, and
a cargo section consisting of cargo or configured to carry cargo, with the cargo section of the cargo spacecraft positionable along the launch vehicle axis in a direction distal from the annular support structure, and with at least a portion of the cargo spacecraft positionable within an annulus of the annular support structure; and

wherein the annular support structure is configured to remain carried by the at least one stage when the cargo spacecraft separates from the launch vehicle.