US 11,866,202 B2
System and method for improved air-launch of a launch vehicle from a towed aircraft
Michael J. Gallo, San Bernardino, CA (US); and Gregory M. Cole, Bend, OR (US)
Assigned to Fenix Space, Inc., San Bernardino, CA (US)
Filed by Fenix Space, Inc., San Bernardino, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/386,189.
Prior Publication US 2023/0034258 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/00 (2006.01); B64D 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/005 (2013.01) [B64D 3/00 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A launch system for orbital or suborbital air-launch of a payload, the system comprising:
a tow aircraft;
a towed aircraft selectively in tow behind the tow aircraft at take-off and in flight via an interconnected tow cable, the towed aircraft having a towed aircraft body defining a towed aircraft central axis and being selectively powered as by having a throttleable and restartable towed aircraft propulsion system installed on or within the towed aircraft for pull-up and climb upon release of the towed aircraft from tow at a desired first altitude;
a launch vehicle releasably carried on the towed aircraft, the launch vehicle having a launch vehicle body defining a launch vehicle diameter and a launch vehicle central axis and being selectively powered as by having a launch vehicle propulsion system installed on or within the launch vehicle for propulsion upon release of the launch vehicle from the towed aircraft at a desired second altitude; and
an articulatable carriage releasably coupling the launch vehicle with the towed aircraft, the towed aircraft, launch vehicle, and articulatable carriage together defining an air-launch assembly, the articulatable carriage comprising at least one forward arm pivotally coupled to an interstage ring of the launch vehicle and at least one rearward arm pivotally coupled to the launch vehicle at the rear of the launch vehicle, the articulatable carriage configured for selectively shifting the launch vehicle between a stowed position adjacent to the towed aircraft and a deployed position spaced from the towed aircraft as by pivoting the at least one forward and rearward arms, thereby allowing for reduced drag with the launch vehicle in the stowed position during tow and during pull-up and climb after release from tow and further allowing for reduced adverse aerodynamic effects between the towed aircraft and the launch vehicle with the launch vehicle in the deployed position at release of the launch vehicle from the towed aircraft, whereby upon release of the launch vehicle from the towed aircraft the towed aircraft flight path diverges from the launch vehicle flight path and the launch vehicle propulsion system is activated to air-launch the launch vehicle and deliver the payload to higher altitude.