Patent ID: 6446905
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
A spacecraft system for repeated launches from earth, for repeated return fights to earth, and for performing respective space missions, the spacecraft comprising,first reusable vehicle comprising a first set of flight surfaces for return flight to earth, a first payload bay for receiving a first payload for performing a first space mission, and a first engine for launching the first vehicle from earth, second reusable vehicle comprising a second set of flight surfaces for return flight to earth, a second payload bay for receiving a second payload for performing a second space mission, and a second engine for launching the second vehicle from earth, the first and second flight surfaces are identical, the first and second payload bays are identical, the first and second engines are identical, and coupling means for coupling together the first and second reusable vehicles during launching of the first and second vehicles, wherein: the first vehicle is a booster vehicle; the first payload is a propellant payload, and the coupling means communicates propellant from the propellant payload in the booster vehicle to the second engines, and the first and second engines entirely provide lift off propulsion of the spacecraft system; the first payload mission is a booster mission; the second vehicle is an orbiter vehicle; the second payload is a mission payload; and the second payload mission is an orbiter mission.