Patents by Inventor Bernard F. Kutter

Bernard F. Kutter 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).

  • Orbital rendezvous techniques
    Patent number: 12110134
    Abstract: A method of achieving orbital rendezvous with a target satellite includes launching a spacecraft with a launch vehicle at an optimal time; steering the launch vehicle out-of-plane based on the orbital elements of the target satellite's orbit; and entering a predetermined rendezvous envelope of the target satellite before the target satellite completes one complete orbit from the target satellite's position at the optimal time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: United Launch Alliance, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric W. Monda, Bernard F. Kutter
  • Orbital rendezvous techniques
    Patent number: 11377237
    Abstract: A method of achieving orbital rendezvous with a target satellite includes launching a spacecraft with a launch vehicle at an optimal time; steering the launch vehicle out-of-plane based on the orbital elements of the target satellite's orbit; and entering a predetermined rendezvous envelope of the target satellite before the target satellite completes one complete orbit from the target satellite's position at the optimal time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eric W. Monda, Bernard F. Kutter