Patent ID: 7690601
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B64G,F02K

Abstract:
1. A reversible aerospace plane, comprising an air intake at a first end of the aerospace plane to receive air; at least one heat exchanger disposed in the aerospace plane; and an engine at a second end of the aerospace plane, wherein the aerospace plane is configured to accelerate in a first orientation and configured to glide and land in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is substantially a reverse of the first orientation, said at least one heat exchanger comprising a plurality of stages, at least one stage of said plurality of stages being configured to use tanked liquid hydrogen as a coolant to condense at least a portion of an oxygen component of the received air to produce liquefied oxygen and another stage of said plurality of stages being configured to condense the received air through the expansion of said liquefied oxygen produced in said at least one stage of said plurality of stages.