Patent ID: 7611095

Claim:
A control system for controlling flight of a hypersonic vehicle, comprising: a movable yaw control surface disposed on a body portion of the vehicle; a pair of fixed yaw control surfaces disposed on said body portion of said vehicle adjacent to, and on opposite sides of, said movable yaw control surface, and projecting outwardly from said body portion, the pair of fixed yaw control surfaces disposed closely adjacent and generally parallel to side portions of the movable yaw control surface to shield portions of the movable yaw control surface from erosion resulting from entry into a planetary atmosphere, such that substantially all of the movable yaw control surfaces are preserved to provide maximum maneuverability for the vehicle; and said movable yaw control surface being controllably movable between at least one deployed position projecting outwardly from said body portion, and a retracted position, for controlling at least one of a flight path and attitude of said vehicle during flight.