Patent ID: 8690104
Filing Date: 2014-04-08
Classification: B64G

Abstract:
1. A method of landing an orbital capsule-spacecraft, having a crew capsule with crew and a service component, wherein the crew capsule and crew has a weight not more than one half of the weight of capsule-spacecraft comprising the steps of: sizing a parachute to slow the crew capsule for an emergency/independent landing according to the equation: a=max acceleration between 20-75×gravitational acceleration LR=load relieving terminal braking system WCS=weight of capsule-spacecraft WCC=weight of crew capsule is ≦50% of WCS tvcc=terminal velocity of crew capsule for which the parachute is sized tvcs=terminal velocity capsule-spacecraft with crew capsule parachute SF=safety factor of 1.2 to 1.4 CW=percent of capsule-spacecraft weight which equals the weight of the crew and sizing a rocket or jet landing system for the tvcs of the capsule-spacecraft according to the equation: