Abstract: A long endurance powered aircraft includes a fuselage, a propeller coupled to the fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and an energy storage system disposed within the fuselage. The wing includes an adjustable surface area including solar cells configured to collect incident solar energy and convert the collected incident solar energy to electrical energy for powering the aircraft during daylight flight. The energy storage system is configured to convert excess electrical energy converted from collected incident solar energy to chemical energy, store the chemical energy, and convert the stored chemical energy to electrical energy for powering the aircraft during night flight.

Abstract: A processing and delivery system is in space around a celestial body having a magnetic field. The system includes at least one facility having supplies and configured for in-space recycling and manufacturing to produce processed objects utilizing space debris objects and the supplies. The system includes at least one space vehicle configured to deliver the space debris objects from their orbits to the at least one facility using electrodynamic propulsion. The system includes at least one space vehicle configured to deliver new supplies to the at least one facility from other orbits using electrodynamic propulsion. The system includes at least one space vehicle configured to deliver the processed objects from the at least one facility to their destination orbits using electrodynamic propulsion.

Abstract: A processing and delivery system is in space around a celestial body having a magnetic field. The system includes at least one facility having supplies and configured for in-space recycling and manufacturing to produce processed objects utilizing space debris objects and the supplies. The system includes at least one space vehicle configured to deliver the space debris objects from their orbits to the at least one facility using electrodynamic propulsion. The system includes at least one space vehicle configured to deliver new supplies to the at least one facility from other orbits using electrodynamic propulsion. The system includes at least one space vehicle configured to deliver the processed objects from the at least one facility to their destination orbits using electrodynamic propulsion.

Abstract: A long endurance powered aircraft includes a fuselage, a propeller coupled to the fuselage, a wing coupled to the fuselage, and an energy storage system disposed within the fuselage. The wing includes an adjustable surface area including solar cells configured to collect incident solar energy and convert the collected incident solar energy to electrical energy for powering the aircraft during daylight flight. The energy storage system is configured to convert excess electrical energy converted from collected incident solar energy to chemical energy, store the chemical energy, and convert the stored chemical energy to electrical energy for powering the aircraft during night flight.

Abstract: A long endurance powered aircraft includes a central spar, a propeller coupled to the central spar, and a wing coupled to the central spar. The wing includes a first spar and an opposing second spar. Leading ends of the first and second spars are coupled to the central spar and trailing ends of the first and second spars selectively diverge from the central spar to define a morphing wing configured change shape to optimize aircraft flight parameters in response to changes in at least one flight condition.

Abstract: A powered aircraft wing is described including a flexible solid sheet having energy cells integrated with the sheet.

Abstract: A lifting body is suspended from a satellite by a long tether extending downwardly into the atmosphere of a planet about which the satellite is orbiting. The lifting body is oriented so as to provide a horizontal force upon the satellite through the tether tension, thereby changing the orbital plane of the satellite. The tether is wound on a reel in the satellite, which may be the NASA Space Shuttle, and the lifting body may be repeatedly deployed and retrieved. The lifting body is provided with remotely controlled aerodynamic surfaces to control its angle of attack.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the mass of an unknown object in a zero gravity environment having an impact plate connected at one end of a spring with the other end connected to an object of known mass, such as a space vehicle. A movement of the impact plate acts to close a switch which is again opened at the end of the impact time.