A Rotating Space Station for Catching and Launching Cargo
A patent for a rotating space station that uses long, extendable cables to catch and release cargo payloads while orbiting a planet.
Original patent title: “Space transportation node including tether system”
A patent for a rotating space station that uses long, extendable cables to catch and release cargo payloads while orbiting a planet. Granted to Individual in 2009 with 18 claims and 18 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system features a large, rotating truss structure that orbits a celestial body, such as Earth. At each end of this truss, a tether tip is attached via a cable that can be reeled in or out. This allows the station to act like a spinning arm, where the tether tips extend to grab or release payloads—like fuel tanks or cargo—while the station continues its rotation. The system also includes mechanisms to adjust its center of mass and even repair itself if a tether cable snaps, using distributed sub-nodes that can maneuver to fix the break.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover stationary space stations that do not utilize rotating tethers for payload transfer.
- Does not cover general satellite deployment methods that do not involve the specific truss and tether reel mechanism described.
- Does not cover ground-based launch systems that operate independently of the orbiting tether node.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The system treats the entire rotating truss as a dynamic balance scale, actively shifting internal mass to change its center of gravity, which allows it to compensate for orbital forces or the irregular shape of a planet.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Conceptual orbital fuel depots
Space tether momentum exchange systems
Proposed orbital cargo transfer stations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents a conceptual approach to 'orbital infrastructure,' aiming to reduce the fuel costs of space travel by using momentum exchange. Instead of every spacecraft carrying its own fuel for every maneuver, this system proposes a 'gas station' in orbit that can physically catch and toss cargo to different trajectories. It reflects the early 2000s interest in repurposing Space Shuttle external tanks for permanent orbital structures.
Filed
September 23, 2005
Granted
March 17, 2009
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The concept of orbital tethers and momentum exchange is currently being explored by research organizations and emerging space logistics startups. While no commercial entity has deployed a system of this scale, companies like Northrop Grumman and various NASA-funded research initiatives continue to study tether dynamics for orbital debris removal and satellite refueling.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the body of literature surrounding 'space logistics' and the reuse of orbital hardware. It helped formalize the idea of using existing space debris, like spent rocket stages, as structural components for future orbital stations, though it remains a visionary concept rather than a widely adopted industry standard.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system features a large, rotating truss structure that orbits a celestial body, such as Earth. At each end of this truss, a tether tip is attached via a cable that can be reeled in or out. This allows the station to act like a spinning arm, where the tether tips extend to grab or release payloads—like fuel tanks or cargo—while the station continues its rotation. The system also includes mechanisms to adjust its center of mass and even repair itself if a tether cable snaps, using distributed sub-nodes that can maneuver to fix the break.
The clever bit
The system treats the entire rotating truss as a dynamic balance scale, actively shifting internal mass to change its center of gravity, which allows it to compensate for orbital forces or the irregular shape of a planet.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover stationary space stations that do not utilize rotating tethers for payload transfer.
- Does not cover general satellite deployment methods that do not involve the specific truss and tether reel mechanism described.
- Does not cover ground-based launch systems that operate independently of the orbiting tether node.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
12/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$16K – $51K
Midpoint $32K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
18 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Citron, R. A., Taylor, T. C., & Kistler, W. P. (2009). A Rotating Space Station for Catching and Launching Cargo (U.S. Patent No. 7,503,526). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7503526/supersonic-retropropulsion
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Rotating Space Station for Catching and Launching Cargo cover?
A patent for a rotating space station that uses long, extendable cables to catch and release cargo payloads while orbiting a planet.
Who owns patent US 7503526?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2009.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 17, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 7503526 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 18 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents a conceptual approach to 'orbital infrastructure,' aiming to reduce the fuel costs of space travel by using momentum exchange. Instead of every spacecraft carrying its own fuel for every maneuver, this system proposes a 'gas station' in orbit that can physically catch and toss cargo to different trajectories. It reflects the early 2000s interest in repurposing Space Shuttle external tanks for permanent orbital structures.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover stationary space stations that do not utilize rotating tethers for payload transfer.
Same assignee
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