US 12,263,963 B2
Circular mass accelerator for off-world applications
Bruno Matsui, Long Beach, CA (US); Mark Sipperley, Long Beach, CA (US); Maxim Clarke, Long Beach, CA (US); and Jonathan Yaney, Long Beach, CA (US)
Assigned to SpinLaunch Inc., Long Beach, CA (US)
Filed by SpinLaunch Inc., Long Beach, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/188,396.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/404,345, filed on Sep. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0076063 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/409 (2013.01) [B64G 1/002 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mass accelerator system for off-world space launch, comprising:
a base assembly that is configured to interface with a supporting surface;
a vertical support assembly extending from the base assembly;
a first drive positioned inside a housing of the vertical support assembly;
a shaft positioned within the housing and connected to the first drive;
a second drive coupled to a spool;
a first tether and a second tether that are spooled onto and unspooled from the spool by the second drive; and
payloads positioned on each of the tethers, the payloads being releasably coupled to the tethers in such a way that the payloads are released upon the payloads being rotated to a target launch velocity.