{
  "patent_number": "US 11724824",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Multiple Space Projectiles Can Assemble Themselves In Mid-Air",
  "original_title": "Systems and techniques for launching a payload",
  "summary": "A system that launches several projectiles into the sky simultaneously and uses onboard controls to have them connect or transfer fuel while flying.",
  "what_it_does": "The system uses multiple launch mechanisms to fire several projectiles into the atmosphere at once. A central control system manages the launch timing to ensure different projectiles experience different g-loads, which helps protect sensitive equipment. Once in flight, a second control system inside the projectiles takes over. This system manages physical connections, such as tethers or locking mechanisms, and can even transfer propellant between the flying objects to help them reach their final destination.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover single-stage rocket systems that do not involve mid-flight assembly of multiple projectiles.",
    "Does not cover ground-based assembly of payloads before the launch sequence begins.",
    "Does not cover standard satellite docking procedures that occur in orbit rather than during the atmospheric flight phase."
  ],
  "filed": "2018-06-19",
  "granted": "2023-08-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "EnergeticxNet LLC",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/energeticxnet-llc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Mark C. Russell",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/mark-c-russell"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 3,
  "tags": [
    "aerospace"
  ],
  "abstract": "This disclosure describes various techniques and systems for rapid low-cost access to suborbital and orbital space and accommodation of acceleration of sensitive payloads to space. For example, a distributed gas injection system may be used in a ram accelerator to launch multiple payloads through the atmosphere. Additionally or alternatively, multiple projectiles may assemble during flight through the atmosphere to transfer and/or resources to another projectile.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11724824/starlink-v2-satellite",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11724824/starlink-v2-satellite/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11724824",
  "relatedPatents": []
}