US 11,866,204 B2
Thermal control system for reentry vehicles
Tosh Alan Keune, Germantown, MD (US)
Assigned to Science Applications International Corporation, Reston, VA (US)
Filed by Science Applications International Corporation, Reston, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/536,450.
Prior Publication US 2023/0166872 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/58 (2006.01); B64G 1/62 (2006.01); B64G 1/14 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/58 (2013.01) [B64G 1/14 (2013.01); B64G 1/401 (2013.01); B64G 1/623 (2023.08)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reentry vehicle comprising:
a main body configured for reentry into a planetary atmosphere;
a heat exchanger comprising one or more fluid channels and positioned to transfer heat, from an exterior of the main body during the reentry, to a working fluid in the one or more fluid channels;
one or more output nozzles;
one or more fluid paths configured to transfer heated fluid from the one or more fluid channels to the one or more output nozzles; and
an extendable plenum coupling the heat exchanger to the main body, wherein the extendable plenum comprises a retracted configuration in which the heat exchanger is proximate the main body and an extended configuration in which the heat exchanger is displaced from the main body.