A missile launcher is provided for ship integration. In particular, the missile launcher affords a simple and safe integration onto a surface, such as a deck of a naval vessel, for example. The missile launcher includes a box launcher to house and launch the missiles and a pedestal to support and orient the box launcher. The box launcher provides protection from the natural environment as well as protection from other threats to the system. The box launcher is designed to enable missiles not normally designed for use in a harsh environment to be used in such an environment. The missile launcher also enables loading of missiles while at sea. The missile launcher can be integrated into naval vessels, land vehicles, fixed locations and other installations, as needed.

A missile launcher is provided for ship integration. In particular, the missile launcher affords a simple and safe integration onto a surface, such as a deck of a naval vessel, for example. The missile launcher includes a box launcher to house and launch the missiles and a pedestal to support and orient the box launcher. The box launcher provides protection from the natural environment as well as protection from other threats to the system. The box launcher is designed to enable missiles not normally designed for use in a harsh environment to be used in such an environment. The missile launcher also enables loading of missiles while at sea. The missile launcher can be integrated into naval vessels, land vehicles, fixed locations and other installations, as needed.

A rocket launch system includes a tubular rocket launcher carriage with electromotive cableway traction drives conveyed beneath a two axis pivot anchored to the earth, elevated into a co-axial transfer tube leading to three primary tether cables whose weight is offset by balloons. The carriage is conveyed to a docking station supported into the stratosphere by a pair of secondary cables suspended under an attachment frame for tensioning balloons. The carriage is engaged by a carriage end gripper guided by two sets of secondary cables and two sets of tertiary cables and lifted by a lower hoist guided by the secondary cables to a lift ring assembly. This lower hoist is supported by an upper hoist suspended from the tensioning balloons attachment frame. The carriage, which engages a lift ring guided by two secondary cables, is elevated further, rotated in azimuth and elevation, and rocket ejection occurs from a launch tube during freefall of the carriage, with engine ignition occurring at a safe distance. The carriages have traction drives which grip cables from which they derive power and rotate to drive the carriage from the low altitude to the high altitude. The traction drives rotate in the opposite direction as the carriage descends the cable following the launch of a rocket under gravitational force. The kinetic energy of the traction drive is converted to electrical energy which is fed back to the cables during descent of the carriage.

A rocket launch system includes a tubular rocket launcher carriage with electromotive cableway traction drives conveyed beneath a two axis pivot anchored to the earth, elevated into a co-axial transfer tube leading to three primary tether cables whose weight is offset by balloons. The carriage is conveyed to a docking station supported into the stratosphere by a pair of secondary cables suspended under an attachment frame for tensioning balloons. The carriage is engaged by a carriage end gripper guided by two sets of secondary cables and two sets of tertiary cables and lifted by a lower hoist guided by the secondary cables to a lift ring assembly. This lower hoist is supported by an upper hoist suspended from the tensioning balloons attachment frame. The carriage, which engages a lift ring guided by two secondary cables, is elevated further, rotated in azimuth and elevation, and rocket ejection occurs from a launch tube during freefall of the carriage, with engine ignition occurring at a safe distance. The carriages have traction drives which grip cables from which they derive power and rotate to drive the carriage from the low altitude to the high altitude. The traction drives rotate in the opposite direction as the carriage descends the cable following the launch of a rocket under gravitational force. The kinetic energy of the traction drive is converted to electrical energy which is fed back to the cables during descent of the carriage.

A low-cost rocket includes an atmospheric flight part and an exo-atmospheric flight part, and uses the atmospheric air part to ascend into the atmosphere through the use of propellers for the atmospheric portion of the flight. The atmospheric flight part separates from the exo-atmospheric flight part in the vicinity of the exo-atmosphere and the exo-atmospheric rocket is launched thereupon. The atmospheric flight part descends through the atmosphere using autorotation of the propellers and, if necessary, a soft landing can be affected by controlling the pitch of the propellers just prior to landing.

A method for reducing or eliminating “Missile Tip-off Effect” (MTE) of a missile ejected from a canister. The method includes: receiving data of desired canister state in response to a launch command. The method further include perform repeatedly until an MTE control criterion is met: (a) receiving, from a sensor associated with the canister, data of measured canister state, and (b) processing the data of the measured canister state and desired canister state, for outputting data indicative of a command to an actuator associated with the canister for modifying at least the angular position of the canister, thereby reducing or eliminating the (MTE) effect.

An erection device and method for the marine hot launch of a rocket are provided. The erection device includes a launch vessel, a launch pad, an erection assembly, a guide member, a driving cylinder, a sliding member, and a connecting member. The sliding member cooperates with the guide member and is driven by the driving cylinder to move linearly. The connecting member has one end hinged to the erection assembly at a certain angle and the other end connected to the sliding member and is configured to move with the sliding member to drive the erection assembly to be erected on the launch pad. The erection device and method can achieve an effective erection of the rocket for marine hot launch with a desired erection effect and high stability.

An erection device and method for the marine hot launch of a rocket are provided. The erection device includes a launch vessel, a launch pad, an erection assembly, a guide member, a driving cylinder, a sliding member, and a connecting member. The sliding member cooperates with the guide member and is driven by the driving cylinder to move linearly. The connecting member has one end hinged to the erection assembly at a certain angle and the other end connected to the sliding member and is configured to move with the sliding member to drive the erection assembly to be erected on the launch pad. The erection device and method can achieve an effective erection of the rocket for marine hot launch with a desired erection effect and high stability.

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.

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.