Patents by Inventor Daniel H. Sokol

Daniel H. Sokol has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Process for recovering a spacecraft first stage
    Patent number: 7834859
    Abstract: The process comprises the steps of: 1) launching the vehicle from the launch site using the first stage booster rocket engine system; 2) separating the at least one upper stage from the first stage booster; 3) terminating operation of the first booster stage rocket engine system; 4) turning the first stage booster back toward the launch site using the aerodynamic flight control system; 5) operating the first stage booster rocket engine system to boost the first stage booster to an altitude sufficient to allow non-powered flight back to the launch side; and 6) landing the first stage booster at the launch site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Barnaby S. Wainfan, Warren W. James, Daniel H. Sokol
  • Process for recoving a launch vehicle first stage
    Publication number: 20080111030
    Abstract: The invention is a process for returning the first stage booster of a launch vehicle having at least one upper stage, the first stage booster having a rocket engine system and aerodynamic flight control system, to the launch site, the process comprising the steps of: 1) launching the vehicle from the launch site using the first stage booster rocket engine system; 2) separating the at least one upper stage from the first stage booster; 3) terminating operation of the first booster stage rocket engine system; 4) turning the first stage booster back toward the launch site using the aerodynamic flight control system; 5) operating the first stage booster rocket engine system to boost the first stage booster to an altitude sufficient to allow non-powered flight back to the launch side; and 6) landing the first stage booster at the launch site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Barnaby S. Wainfan, Warren W. James, Daniel H. Sokol
  • Supersonic business jet
    Patent number: D428381
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Hartmann, John M. Morgenstern, Daniel H. Sokol