| US 7,484,690 B2 | ||
| In orbit space transportation and recovery system | ||
| Robert F. D'Ausilio, Bountiful, Utah (US); James R. Stuart, Louisville, Colo. (US); Roger X. Lenard, Edgewood, N. Mex. (US); and Franklin H. Williams, Jr., Salt Lake City, Utah (US) | ||
| Assigned to Iostar Corporation, North Salt Lake, Utah (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 10, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/651,727. | ||
| Application 11/651727 is a division of application No. 10/779869, filed on Feb. 17, 2004, granted, now 7,216,834, filed on May 15, 2007. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0296436 A1, Dec. 04, 2008 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/42 (2006.01); B64G 1/64 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 244—171.1 [244/171.7; 244/172.2] | 21 Claims |
| 21. A method of operating a nuclear powered vehicle in orbit comprising the steps of:
a) providing said nuclear powered vehicle in orbit with a radiation shield for protecting a detachable payload;
b) providing said nuclear powered vehicle with a grasping means extending outwardly therefrom at one end for docking and interacting
with at least one other satellite; said grasping means being configured for multiple use and for interacting with a plurality
of different objects; said grasping means including a plurality of segments;
c) configuring said plurality of segments to partially surround one of said plurality of different objects and to engage and
to grasp said object without the need for any preconfigured docking interface on said object; and
d) controlling the kinetic energy for interacting with the at least one other satellite.
|