Patent ID: 7252270

Claim:
System for launching a missile from a launch region within the atmosphere of a planet, the missile being located within a flying vehicle before launching the missile, the system comprising: a missile support coupled with said missile; and a foldable control-surface mechanism coupled with said missile support, said foldable control-surface mechanism being in a folded position before ejecting said missile support and said missile from said flying vehicle, said foldable control-surface mechanism moving from a folded position to an operational position after ejecting said missile support and said missile from said flying vehicle, said foldable control-surface mechanism maneuvering said missile and said missile support to a predetermined upward orientation suitable for launching said missile, a release controller including an orientation detector, the orientation detector being coupled with said missile support to detect when said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation; and at least one release mechanism coupled with said release controller, wherein said at least one releasable mechanism couples said missile with said missile support before said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation, and wherein said at least one releasable mechanism decouples said missile from said missile support, according to a signal received from said release controller, after said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation, and wherein said missile is launched after decoupling from said missile support.