{
  "patent_number": "US 11377237",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Rockets Catch Up to Satellites Faster Using Out-of-Plane Steering",
  "original_title": "Orbital rendezvous techniques",
  "summary": "A method for launching rockets to reach a space station or satellite in less than one full orbit by steering the rocket sideways during launch.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a way to launch a spacecraft so it meets a target, like the International Space Station, in less than one full orbit. Normally, rockets launch into a specific path that takes a long time to align with a target. This method uses 'out-of-plane' steering—essentially steering the rocket sideways relative to its initial path—to adjust its trajectory while it is still climbing. By timing the launch to hit a specific 'phase angle' (the relative position of the rocket and target), the rocket can reach the target's 'rendezvous envelope' before the target has even finished one trip around the Earth.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover rendezvous methods that take more than one full orbit to complete.",
    "Does not cover launch systems that do not use out-of-plane steering to adjust the orbital plane.",
    "Does not cover rendezvous with targets that are not in an orbital plane offset from the launch site.",
    "Does not cover manual piloting; it specifically requires a processor-based control unit."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-05-01",
  "granted": "2022-07-05",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "United Launch Alliance LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/united-launch-alliance-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Bernard F. Kutter",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/bernard-f-kutter"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eric W. Monda",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/eric-w-monda"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 9,
  "tags": [
    "aerospace",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "A method of achieving orbital rendezvous with a target satellite includes launching a spacecraft with a launch vehicle at an optimal time; steering the launch vehicle out-of-plane based on the orbital elements of the target satellite's orbit; and entering a predetermined rendezvous envelope of the target satellite before the target satellite completes one complete orbit from the target satellite's position at the optimal time.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11377237/starship-heat-shield-tiles",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11377237/starship-heat-shield-tiles/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11377237",
  "relatedPatents": []
}