Methods for a reusable space vehicle to land at substantially the same location as its launching site. The vehicle traveling in a particular orbit, which is a repeating ground track orbit, allows for launching and landing at the same location once per day. The repeating ground track orbits that allow for launching and landing at the same location once per day overfly the launch and landing site once per day. Launching and landing at the same site provides a number of direct advantages. For example, the just-landed vehicle may be transported a relatively short distance to the launch site, reconditioned relatively quickly, and be ready for a quick turn-around launch.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    REPEATING GROUND TRACK ORBITS FOR A REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2025-05-29


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS



    Repeating ground track orbits for a reusable launch vehicle

    WUERL ADAM MICHAEL / KUPEC QUINN ROBERT WHITE | European Patent Office | 2025

    Free access

    REPEATING GROUND TRACK ORBITS FOR A REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE

    WUERL ADAM MICHAEL / KUPEC QUINN ROBERT WHITE | European Patent Office | 2024

    Free access


    Searching for Repeating Ground Track Orbits: A Systematic Approach

    Lara, M. / American Astronautical Society; Space Flight Mechanics Technical Committee / American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Astrodynamics Technical Committee | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998