Jeffrey H Cannon

US Patent:

8292232, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Aug 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/854827

Inventors:

Dana G. Andrews - Seattle WA, US
Michael Beerman - Seattle WA, US
Kevin A. Brown - Seattle WA, US
Jeffrey H. Cannon - Maple Valley WA, US
Krissa E. Watry - Puyallup WA, US
Jason Andrews - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Andrews Space, Inc. - Tukwila WA

International Classification:

B64G 1/00

US Classification:

2441591, 244158 R, 244160

Abstract:

A satellite recovery apparatus having a base configured to be attached to a satellite and having a pressurized gas chamber and a valve assembly. A plurality of walls are hingedly attached to the base and movable between a closed position, wherein the walls define a volume above the base, and an open position, wherein the walls are disposed spaced away from the base. A heat shield is attached to the base. A deployable decelerator is attached to the heat shield and has an outer perimeter with an expandable torus that is operably connected to the valve assembly such that the expandable torus can be pressurized from the chamber. Pressurization of the expandable torus deploys the decelerator assembly from a non-deployed position within the volume to a deployed high-drag position.