| US 7,611,097 B2 | ||
| In orbit space transportation and recovery system | ||
| Robert F. D'Ausilio, Bountiful, Utah (US); James R. Stuart, Louisville, Colo. (US); Thomas N. Giaccherini, Carmel Valley, Calif. (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. 11/651,826. | ||
| Application 11/651826 is a division of application No. 10/779869, filed on Feb. 17, 2004, granted, now 7,216,834, filed on May 15, 2007. | ||
| Application 10/779869 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/755200, filed on Jan. 09, 2004, granted, now 7,070,151, filed on Jul. 04, 2006. | ||
| Application 10/755200 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/736887, filed on Dec. 15, 2003, granted, now 7,216,833, filed on May 15, 2007. | ||
| Application 10/736887 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/298138, filed on Nov. 15, 2002, abandoned. | ||
| Application 10/298138 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/918705, filed on Jul. 30, 2001, abandoned. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2009/0242704 A1, Oct. 01, 2009 | ||
| Int. Cl. B64G 1/10 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/42 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 244—171.1 [244/172.2; 244/158.1] | 31 Claims |
| 1. A method comprising the steps of:
a) operating a nuclear powered vehicle in orbit;
b) generating electrical energy on board said nuclear powered vehicle by a gas cooled nuclear reactor on board said nuclear
powered vehicle, wherein the nuclear reactor and an energy converter, comprising a turbine and a compressor, coupled to the
nuclear reactor produce at least 250 kW of sustained electrical power; and
c) conveying said electrical energy to a satellite from said nuclear powered vehicle.
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