US 11,987,398 B2
Method and apparatus for underwater launch platform for spacecraft
Michael Stesel, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to Pritok Capital LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Pritok Capital LLC, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/467,361.
Prior Publication US 2023/0406547 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 5/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/10 (2006.01); B64G 1/22 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 5/00 (2013.01) [B64G 1/002 (2013.01); B64G 1/10 (2013.01); B64G 1/223 (2023.08); B64G 2005/005 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising an accelerating module, a ballast module, and a launch module,
the accelerating module is buoyant when in water and is not a launch module,
the ballast module sinks when in water,
the launch module is a spacecraft,
the launch module is releasably positioned on the accelerating module,
at least a portion of the ballast module defines a plane extending horizontally, the accelerating module and a ballast module are connected to each other by at least 3 reusable latching devices positioned with equal angular distance from each other relative to axes along the defined plane, the latching devices including a guided clamp,
the latching device releases the engagement between the accelerating module and the ballast module by a movement of a guided clamp against the surface profiled of less than 5° angle relative to the defined plane,
wherein the surface profiled less than 5° angle causes the guided clamp to release the engagement faster and with less force than would movement of the guided clamp against the surface profiled greater than a 5° angle.