Patent ID: 7780119

Claim:
A modular spacecraft, comprising: a top forward adapter section, said top forward adapter section comprising a top outer interface plane ring and a top inner interface plane ring; a top tank dome coupled to said top forward adapter section; at least one tank segment coupled to said top tank dome; a bottom tank dome coupled to said at least one tank segment, said bottom tank dome having an opening, said opening providing access to a pressurized section of the modular spacecraft; a bottom forward adapter section, said bottom forward adapter section inverted for coupling to said bottom tank dome, said bottom forward adapter section comprising a bottom outer interface plane ring and a bottom inner interface plane ring, said bottom forward adapter section for coupling to a forward adapter section of a launch vehicle; and a bottom coupling mechanism coupled to said bottom forward adapter section, said coupling mechanism located concentrically with both said bottom inner interface plane ring and said bottom outer interface plane ring.