Inflatable Decelerator/Descent & Recovery Systems for Space, Suborbital & Near-Space Payloads & Manned Spacecraft

One objective is to develop reliable ways and means other than parachutes/parawings to decelerate, descend and revover payloads lost during pre-orbit launch failures, improper orbit insertion and spacecraft operational failure in space, suborbital and near-space applications. Another objective is to eliminate uncontrolled payload free-fall trajectory into restricted or populated areas, and use proprietary means to precision guide and soft-land the descending vehicle and payload to within a 300 meter diameter circle. Use of patented and proven, stowed, then inflatable, cone shaped decelerators with a high degree of packaging flexibility to envelop and protect a wide variety of payloads during atmospheric and space descent, and impact on water without immersion, or, on land to recover valuable payloads for reuse is proposed. Use of rapid descent, deflatable impact attenuators to dissipate and minimize impact forces during rapid final descent and landing is proposed. Dual and multiple use applications include deployment of Inflatable Recovery Vehicles to safely return aborted unmanned/manned commercial expendable launch vehicles,personnel, components, and spacecraft; capture and deorbit of orbital debris, microgravity payloads; threat shielding of on-orbit spacecraft. Derivative applications include aircraft crew escape/recovery, airborne payload deployment during hostile conflicts, floods, earthquakes and other disasters.