Abstract: A carriage for use in a rocket launch system for cooperating with an electromotive cableway traction drives conveyed beneath a two axis pivot anchored to the earth, elevated into a co-axial transfer tube leading to three primary tether cables whose weight is offset by balloons. The carriage has traction drives which grip cables from which they derive power and rotate to drive the carriage from the low altitude to the high altitude. The traction drives rotate in the opposite direction as the carriage descends the cable following the launch of a rocket under gravitational force. The kinetic energy of the traction drive is converted to electrical energy which is fed back to the cables during descent of the carriage.

Abstract: A container for maintenance capsule as a component of a maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program. The container transports tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers. The container is seaworthy, watertight and floatable, and can be loaded on a maintenance vessel which carries the container to and from a wind turbine tower.

Abstract: An airborne drone launch and recovery apparatus for selectively launching drones located on the underside of a carrier aircraft or recovering drones following flight of the drones, the airborne launch and recovery apparatus has an extensible stinger slidable along the length of a stinger sheath between a retracted position proximal the rear portion of the carrier aircraft and an extended position in front of the carrier aircraft, and a catcher shuttle carried on the forward part of the stinger for extending into the non-turbulent air in front of the carrier aircraft when the stinger is in the extended position. The carrier shuttle includes a launch/recovery assembly for selectively either having a locked condition for the recovery guide of a drone prior to the positioning of the catcher shuttle in a selected for the launch of the drone, and having an open condition for receiving the recovery guide of a drone at the termination of the flight of the drone to terminate the flight.

Abstract: A container for maintenance capsule as a component of a maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program. The container transports tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers. The container is seaworthy, watertight and floatable, and can be loaded on a maintenance vessel which carries the container to and from a wind turbine tower.

Abstract: An all-weather maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program includes a maintenance capsule for transporting tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers, a maintenance vessel with a capsule support apparatus for transporting capsules supported on board by the capsule support apparatus to and from respective wind turbine towers, and a crane assembly with a trolley for transporting capsules between the respective wind turbine towers and the maintenance vessel.

Abstract: A carriage for use in a rocket launch system for cooperating with an electromotive cableway traction drives conveyed beneath a two axis pivot anchored to the earth, elevated into a co-axial transfer tube leading to three primary tether cables whose weight is offset by balloons. The carriage has traction drives which grip cables from which they derive power and rotate to drive the carriage from the low altitude to the high altitude. The traction drives rotate in the opposite direction as the carriage descends the cable following the launch of a rocket under gravitational force. The kinetic energy of the traction drive is converted to electrical energy which is fed back to the cables during descent of the carriage.

Abstract: A rocket launch system includes a tubular rocket launcher carriage with electromotive cableway traction drives conveyed beneath a two axis pivot anchored to the earth, elevated into a co-axial transfer tube leading to three primary tether cables whose weight is offset by balloons. The carriage is conveyed to a docking station supported into the stratosphere by a pair of secondary cables suspended under an attachment frame for tensioning balloons. The carriage is engaged by a carriage end gripper guided by two sets of secondary cables and two sets of tertiary cables and lifted by a lower hoist guided by the secondary cables to a lift ring assembly. This lower hoist is supported by an upper hoist suspended from the tensioning balloons attachment frame. The carriage, which engages a lift ring guided by two secondary cables, is elevated further, rotated in azimuth and elevation, and rocket ejection occurs from a launch tube during freefall of the carriage, with engine ignition occurring at a safe distance.

Abstract: An airborne drone launch and recovery apparatus for selectively launching drones located on the underside of a carrier aircraft or recovering drones following flight of the drones, the airborne launch and recovery apparatus has an extensible stinger slidable along the length of a stinger sheath between a retracted position proximal the rear portion of the carrier aircraft and an extended position in front of the carrier aircraft, and a catcher shuttle carried on the forward part of the stinger for extending into the non-turbulent air in front of the carrier aircraft when the stinger is in the extended position. The carrier shuttle includes a launch/recovery assembly for selectively either having a locked condition for the recovery guide of a drone prior to the positioning of the catcher shuttle in a selected for the launch of the drone, and having an open condition for receiving the recovery guide of a drone at the termination of the flight of the drone to terminate the flight.

Abstract: An all-weather maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program includes a maintenance capsule for transporting tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers, a maintenance vessel with a capsule support apparatus for transporting capsules supported on board by the capsule support apparatus to and from respective wind turbine towers, and a crane assembly with a trolley for transporting capsules between the respective wind turbine towers and the maintenance vessel.

Abstract: A rocket launch system (1) includes a tubular rocket launcher carriage (2) with electromotive cableway traction drives (26) conveyed beneath a two axis pivot (63) anchored to the earth, elevated into a co-axial transfer tube (124, 143) leading to three primary tether cables (27) whose weight is offset by balloons (164). The carriage is conveyed to a docking station (166) supported into the stratosphere by a pair of secondary cables (184) suspended under an attachment frame (162) for tensioning balloons. The carriage is engaged by a carriage end gripper (196) guided by two secondary and two tertiary cables (186) and lifted by a lower hoist (198) guided by the secondary cables. This lower hoist is supported by an upper hoist (168) suspended from the tensioning balloons attachment frame.