Patent ID: 7198233

Claim:
A reusable cargo module system, comprising: a reusable orbital vehicle (OV) having a first end and a second end; a propulsion system mounted to the OV proximate the second end; a reusable unpressurized cargo module having a sidewall, an attachment end of the sidewall configured to be coupled to the OV first end and a free-end portion of the sidewall opposite the attachment end, the cargo module having an interior portion defined by a region within the sidewall and intermediate the attachment end and the free-end portion; a retention structure configured to retain cargo, the retention structure having first and second ends, the retention structure first end being coupled only to a movable support platform within the interior portion of the cargo module and independent of the cargo module sidewall; and a docking mechanism affixed to the retention structure second end to permit docking of the cargo module with an orbiting object.