	US 12,065,267 B2
	Earth to orbit transportation system
Livingston L. Holder, Renton, WA (US); Gary C. Hudson, Renton, WA (US); Bevin C. McKinney, Renton, WA (US); Marshall L. Crenshaw, Renton, WA (US); and Daniel Paul Raymer, Playa Del Rey, CA (US)
Assigned to Radian Aerospace Inc., Renton, WA (US)
Filed by Radian Aerospace, Inc., Renton, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/133,473.
Application 18/133,473 is a continuation of application No. 17/339,382, filed on Jun. 4, 2021, granted, now 11,649,070.
Application 17/339,382 is a continuation of application No. 16/745,187, filed on Jan. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,059,608, issued on Jul. 13, 2021.
Application 16/745,187 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/034003, filed on May 24, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/676,809, filed on May 25, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382564 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B64G 1/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/14 (2006.01); B64G 1/40 (2006.01); B64G 1/64 (2006.01); B64G 5/00 (2006.01)

CPC B64G 1/14 (2013.01) [B64G 1/002 (2013.01); B64G 1/402 (2013.01); B64G 1/64 (2013.01); B64G 5/00 (2013.01)]

24 Claims

1. A method for loading liquid oxygen into a horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing space vehicle, wherein the space vehicle is mounted to a launch sled having a first oxidizer tank, wherein the space vehicle has a second oxidizer tank, and wherein the method comprises:

cooling the liquid oxygen to a temperature of about −196 degrees C. or less;

flowing the cooled liquid oxygen into the first oxidizer tank on the launch sled;

and

flowing the cooled liquid oxygen from the first oxidizer tank into the second oxidizer tank on the space vehicle, wherein the second oxidizer tank has a non-cylindrical, non-spherical shape with a non-circular cross-sectional shape parallel to a longitudinal axis of the space vehicle and a non-circular cross-sectional shape parallel to a lateral axis of the space vehicle that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the space vehicle.