US 11,912,441 B2
Return to base space launch vehicles, systems and methods
Adria Argemi Samso, Barcelona (ES); Rasmus Bergstrom, Barcelona (ES); Federico Rossi, Barcelona (ES); and Nicola Palumbo, Barcelona (ES)
Assigned to PANGEA AEROSPACE, S.L., Barcelona (ES)
Appl. No. 17/290,699
Filed by PANGEA AEROSPACE, S.L., Barcelona (ES)
PCT Filed Nov. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/080235
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 30, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/094640, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18382788 (EP), filed on Nov. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0017242 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B64G 1/62 (2006.01); B64G 1/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/42 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/62 (2013.01) [B64G 1/002 (2013.01); B64G 1/425 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reusable stage for a space launch vehicle, the reusable stage having a main body including a first end and a second end, and defining a central longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end along a length of the main body, and the reusable stage further comprising:
a reusable stage rocket engine arranged at or near the first end of the reusable stage to propel the launch vehicle vertically upwards at take-off, and
a plurality of electrically powered fans for providing lift during a landing procedure of the stage, wherein the plurality of fans includes a first row of fans arranged side by side and a second row of fans arranged side by side, wherein the first and the second rows are substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the main body is cylindrical, wherein the first row of fans and the second row of fans are arranged in diametrically opposite positions of the main cylindrical body, and wherein the fans of the first row have rotational axes arranged substantially perpendicular to the first row and the fans of the second row have rotational axes arranged substantially perpendicular to the second row.