# How to Launch Spacecraft Using Giant Cannons Instead of Rockets

> A method for launching space vehicles into orbit using high-speed impulsive forces like cannons, precisely timed to rendezvous with existing satellites.

- **Patent:** US 10427804
- **Original title:** Orbital mechanics of impulsive launch
- **Owner:** Quicklaunch Inc
- **Granted:** 2019
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 2
- **Field:** aerospace, mechanical, telecommunications

## What it does

This patent describes a technique for launching a vehicle into space using an impulsive force—essentially a massive push or 'shot'—rather than a traditional multi-stage rocket. The method dictates that the vehicle must be launched in an easterly direction to leverage the Earth's rotation. The core of the invention is a precise timing mechanism: the launch must occur at a specific moment, calculated as approximately one-third of the vehicle's total 'fly-out time' before the target satellite passes over the launch site. This ensures the vehicle reaches its highest point (apogee) at the exact moment and location required to meet the target.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover traditional rocket-based launches that use continuous thrust during ascent.
- Does not cover launches in directions other than easterly or due east.
- Does not cover orbital maneuvers that do not rely on the specific one-third fly-out time calculation for rendezvous.
- Does not cover the mechanical design of the launcher itself, only the orbital trajectory and timing method.

## The clever bit

The patent uses the vehicle's own flight time to solve the complex 'phasing' problem of rendezvous. By launching at exactly one-third of the fly-out time before the target passes overhead, the vehicle naturally arrives at the rendezvous point without requiring complex mid-flight corrections.

## Real-world examples

1. Light gas gun launch systems
2. Electromagnetic railgun space launch concepts
3. Kinetic energy delivery systems for orbital cargo

## Why it matters

This patent addresses the high cost of space access by proposing a way to use kinetic energy launchers, such as light gas guns or electromagnetic rails. By calculating the exact timing needed to intercept a target, it provides a theoretical framework for 'gun-launched' cargo or small satellites. This is a significant departure from the chemical rocket paradigm that has dominated spaceflight since the 1950s.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How to Launch Spacecraft Using Giant Cannons Instead of Rockets cover?

A method for launching space vehicles into orbit using high-speed impulsive forces like cannons, precisely timed to rendezvous with existing satellites.

### Who owns patent US 10427804?

Quicklaunch Inc owns this patent, granted in 2019.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on October 1, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 10427804 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent addresses the high cost of space access by proposing a way to use kinetic energy launchers, such as light gas guns or electromagnetic rails. By calculating the exact timing needed to intercept a target, it provides a theoretical framework for 'gun-launched' cargo or small satellites. This is a significant departure from the chemical rocket paradigm that has dominated spaceflight since the 1950s.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover traditional rocket-based launches that use continuous thrust during ascent.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10427804/starship-stainless-steel-construction

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10427804

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._