Single-person spacecraft

Abstract

A single-person spacecraft includes a pressurized crew enclosure, an external equipment bay, and an overhead crown assembly.

1 . A single-person spacecraft, comprising:
 a pressurized crew enclosure,   an external equipment bay, and   an overhead crown assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further including a shielding skin, wherein space between the shielding skin and the pressurized crew enclosure defines the external equipment bay which is an unpressurized annular volume within which various subsystems of the single-person spacecraft are housed. 
     
     
         3 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further including a docking mechanism and a hatch. 
     
     
         4 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure is composed of a welded aluminum structure and a clear hemispheric canopy. 
     
     
         5 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 4 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure includes a large diameter upper enclosure member allowing arm movement and a smaller diameter lower enclosure member for foot restraint and crew translation into and out of the pressurized crew enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure includes a first horizontal translation bar and within the upper enclosure member and first and second vertical translation bars in the lower enclosure member. 
     
     
         7 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 6 , further including a foot restraint adjustably mounted on the first and second vertical translation bars within the lower enclosure member of the pressurized crew enclosure in a manner allowing for up and down movement along the first and second vertical translation bars relative to the upper enclosure member so to allow for proper positioning of astronauts of various sizes within the pressurized crew enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the clear hemispheric canopy includes a sun visor, an opaque shade, and a protective shield. 
     
     
         9 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 5 , wherein the upper enclosure member is secured to the lower enclosure member via a frustum sheet metal section extending between a lower edge of the upper enclosure member and an upper edge of the lower enclosure member. 
     
     
         10 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 9 , wherein feedthrough plates are formed along the frustum sheet metal section and provide access points for communicating between the pressurized crew enclosure and the external equipment bay. 
     
     
         11 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized crew enclosure is supported by panel longerons providing primary load path for loads applied to the single-person spacecraft. 
     
     
         12 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 11 , further including thrusters, propellant tanks, batteries, and a multifunctional tool drawer are all connected to, and stabilized by the panel longerons. 
     
     
         13 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the crown assembly is secured to structural rails that arch over the pressurized crew enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , wherein the crown assembly supports propulsion thrusters, lights and cameras. 
     
     
         15 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further including a data processing system providing for flight control, robotics operation and processing relevant to an air management system. 
     
     
         16 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 1 , further including a service panel within the pressurized crew enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The single-person spacecraft according to  claim 16 , wherein the service panel includes inputs/outputs for servicing oxygen recharge, nitrogen recharge, water recharge, nitrox recharge, power recharge, data output, and inlet filter.