A Modular Launch System with an Expandable Mast for Spacecraft
A spacecraft launch system that uses an expandable mast to connect a nose and tail, allowing it to carry modular payloads and land horizontally after releasing them.
Original patent title: “Space shuttle orbiter and return system”
A spacecraft launch system that uses an expandable mast to connect a nose and tail, allowing it to carry modular payloads and land horizontally after releasing them. Granted to Biosphere Aerospace LLC in 2015 with 17 claims and 4 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a launch vehicle consisting of a nose section and a tail section connected by a central mast. This mast can extend or retract, allowing the vehicle to change its length to accommodate different payloads or fuel modules between the nose and tail. Once the payload is released in orbit, the system retracts the mast to bring the nose and tail together, forming a compact, aerodynamic shape capable of horizontal landing. The aerodynamic surfaces are specifically designed only to support the weight of the vehicle itself during this landing phase.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover launch systems that lack an expandable mast mechanism.
- Does not cover aerodynamic surfaces designed to support payloads during landing.
- Does not cover non-modular, single-piece rocket designs.
- Does not cover vertical landing systems (e.g., propulsive landing).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The invention uses a retractable mast to transition between a long, payload-carrying configuration and a short, aerodynamically stable configuration for reentry, effectively decoupling the launch geometry from the landing geometry.
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 modular space launch vehicles
Reusable orbital launch platforms
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the challenge of making space flight more efficient by creating a reusable, modular architecture. By allowing a single vehicle to carry variable payloads and then return to a compact state for landing, it aims to reduce the mass and complexity typically associated with dedicated launch vehicles.
Filed
April 25, 2013
Granted
July 7, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The patent is held by Biosphere Aerospace LLC. The broader industry, including companies like SpaceX and Rocket Lab, explores similar themes of modularity and reusability, though they often utilize different mechanical approaches for stage separation and recovery.
Market impact
This patent represents a niche design approach within the growing commercial space sector. While it has not triggered widespread industry adoption or litigationlitigationA lawsuit over patent infringement. Litigated patents often signal commercial importance.Read more →, it highlights the ongoing engineering effort to optimize launch vehicle design for multiple mission profiles and cost-effective recovery.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a launch vehicle consisting of a nose section and a tail section connected by a central mast. This mast can extend or retract, allowing the vehicle to change its length to accommodate different payloads or fuel modules between the nose and tail. Once the payload is released in orbit, the system retracts the mast to bring the nose and tail together, forming a compact, aerodynamic shape capable of horizontal landing. The aerodynamic surfaces are specifically designed only to support the weight of the vehicle itself during this landing phase.
The clever bit
The invention uses a retractable mast to transition between a long, payload-carrying configuration and a short, aerodynamically stable configuration for reentry, effectively decoupling the launch geometry from the landing geometry.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover launch systems that lack an expandable mast mechanism.
- Does not cover aerodynamic surfaces designed to support payloads during landing.
- Does not cover non-modular, single-piece rocket designs.
- Does not cover vertical landing systems (e.g., propulsive landing).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
14/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
11/20
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
$31K – $98K
Midpoint $61K · 6.9 yr remaining · 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
17 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Jr., E. H. (2015). A Modular Launch System with an Expandable Mast for Spacecraft (U.S. Patent No. 9,073,647). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9073647/propulsive-landing-of-rocket-stages
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 Modular Launch System with an Expandable Mast for Spacecraft cover?
A spacecraft launch system that uses an expandable mast to connect a nose and tail, allowing it to carry modular payloads and land horizontally after releasing them.
Who owns patent US 9073647?
Biosphere Aerospace LLC owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 7, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9073647 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the challenge of making space flight more efficient by creating a reusable, modular architecture. By allowing a single vehicle to carry variable payloads and then return to a compact state for landing, it aims to reduce the mass and complexity typically associated with dedicated launch vehicles.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover launch systems that lack an expandable mast mechanism.
Patent monitoring