Patents by Inventor Fank J. Cepollina

Fank J. Cepollina 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).

  • Publication number: 20100038491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Host Transfer Vehicle methods and computer-readable medium for enabling the capture and berthing of passive cargo containers in space with an orbiting system, such as the International Space Station. A method embodiment positions a Host Transfer Vehicle (HTV) in proximity to an orbiting system, captures a passive cargo container launched from a ground by a grappling arm of the HTV, couples the passive cargo container to the HTV to form an HTV/cargo container stack, propels the HTV/cargo container stack within proximity of an orbiting system, and through the use of a grappling arm of the orbiting system berths the HTV/cargo container stack via a coupling structure on the cargo container to the orbiting system. The cargo container can then receive cargo from the orbiting system and either return to the ground or the cargo container can be burned up in the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: U.S.A. as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Admi
    Inventors: Fank J. Cepollina, Mark D. Brumfield, Jason Budinoff, James L. Cooper, Ralph D. Green