US 12,145,726 B2
Launch system
Eyal Peleg, Hedera (IL); Tomer Valency, Shimshit (IL); and Ilan Barboi, Kfar Uriyya (IL)
Assigned to ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod (IL)
Appl. No. 17/268,532
Filed by ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD., Lod (IL)
PCT Filed Aug. 14, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IL2019/050910
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 15, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/039424, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 262690 (IL), filed on Aug. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0237872 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
Int. Cl. B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/12 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/20 (2023.01)
CPC B64C 39/024 (2013.01) [B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64U 10/13 (2023.01); B64U 30/12 (2023.01); B64U 30/20 (2023.01); B64U 50/19 (2023.01); B64U 70/20 (2023.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A launch system, comprising: a carrier vehicle; and at least one payload vehicle; wherein the payload vehicle includes a payload propulsion system and aerodynamic lift surfaces designed for providing the payload vehicle with aerodynamic powered flight at a design subsonic cruise speed at a desired altitude; wherein the carrier vehicle is configured for carrying the at least one payload vehicle, and further comprising a solid rocket propulsion system for propelling said launch system while carrying the at least one payload vehicle; wherein the carrier vehicle is configured for releasing the payload vehicle with respect to said carrier vehicle at a predetermined altitude; wherein the at least one payload vehicle includes at least one sensor having a respective line of sight (LOS) through a respective aperture of the sensor, the at least one sensor is mounted with respect to the payload vehicle such that the respective LOS is inclined at a positive elevation and the respective said aperture is facing in a direction pointing away from the Earth at least during a portion of said aerodynamic powered flight wherein said payload vehicle is in cruise.