Patent ID: 7753315

Claim:
A multi-stage payload delivery vehicle, comprising: a first stage comprising: a jet engine; a recovery system for recovering the first stage, wherein the recovery system comprises one of a parachute and a parafoil; and a microprocessor-based control system to control a deployment parameter of the payload delivery vehicle; at least one solid-propellant booster rocket motor coupled to the first stage; and a second stage comprising: a solid-propellant rocket motor; and a payload comprising: a ballistic missile reentry vehicle; and at least one of a material and a coating for providing one of an infrared signature and a radio-frequency signature representative of a ballistic missile; wherein the payload delivery vehicle is un-manned and configured for ground-based launch using one of a launch pad comprising a launch surface substantially normal to a thrust of the jet engine during launch and a rail launch system, wherein the jet engine generates thrust to continually power an ascent of the payload delivery vehicle until separation of the first and second stages, wherein the at least one solid-propellant booster rocket motor augments the thrust of the jet engine during a portion of the ascent and is subsequently jettisoned from the first stage, wherein the microprocessor-based control system is programmed to terminate in-flight operation of the jet engine after separation of the first and second stages, and wherein the recovery system is configured for deployment after separation of the first and second stages and after operation of the jet engine is terminated to control a descent of the first stage.