Patents by Inventor Christopher O. Johnston

Christopher O. Johnston 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).

  • System and method for lift augmentation of atmospheric entry vehicles during aerocapture and entry, descent, and landing maneuvers
    Patent number: 12125636
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, are placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Robert W. Moses, Foy M. Cheatwood, Christopher O. Johnston, Sergey Macheret, Bernard Parent, Justin Little
  • ELECTRODE DESIGN FOR LIFT AUGMENTATION AND POWER GENERATION OF ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY VEHICLES DURING AEROCAPTURE AND ENTRY, DESCENT, AND LANDING MANEUVERS
    Publication number: 20220348362
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, may be placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft. The MHD flow control mechanism may also be configured to provide additional thermal protection of the electrodes therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Robert W. Moses, Foy M. Cheatwood, Christopher O. Johnston, Sergey Macheret, Bernard Parent, Justin Little
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIFT AUGMENTATION OF ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY VEHICLES DURING AEROCAPTURE AND ENTRY, DESCENT, AND LANDING MANEUVERS
    Publication number: 20220340308
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, are placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Robert W. Moses, Foy M. Cheatwood, Christopher O. Johnston, Sergey Macheret, Bernard Parent, Justin Little