Abstract: Various enhanced rocket engine systems are discussed herein. In one implementation, a rocket engine system includes a combustion chamber, and at least one propellant tank that holds propellant in at least a liquid state. The rocket engine system also includes a pump configured to pump liquid propellant from the at least one propellant tank through a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system and a heat exchanger. The TEG system is configured to produce electrical power for the pump based at least on a temperature differential between the liquid propellant from the at least one propellant tank and heat produced in the combustion chamber during an active state of the rocket engine. The heat exchanger is configured to receive heat from the combustion chamber and pressurize the at least one propellant tank by heating at least partially liquid propellant received from the TEG system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for spaceborne and airborne computing platforms. In one example, an airborne computing platform includes a plurality of airborne devices, with one or more of the airborne devices comprising specialized roles defined by at least one among software elements and hardware elements targeted to the specialized roles. Individual ones of the airborne devices are configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the specialized roles, determine one or more target devices to handle the tasks based at least in part on attributes of the target devices, and transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the target devices for performing the tasks.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for computing platforms. In one example, a computing device is configured to maintain attribute scoring metrics that rate target computing devices in competency among at least a portion of roles defined at least by presently provisioned software elements and hardware elements. The computing device is configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the roles, and based at least in part on the attribute scoring metrics, determine one or more target computing devices that satisfy the one or more of the roles to handle the tasks. The computing device is configured to transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the one or more target computing devices for performing the tasks using at least one among the presently provisioned software elements and hardware elements associated with the one or more of the roles.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying software payloads in satellite systems. In one example, a satellite device comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads for execution, and an execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the satellite device to at least perform activities using one or more on-board systems of the satellite device. The execution system is configured to transfer state information related to execution of ones of the virtual nodes to at least another device over the communication interface, wherein the state information comprises data related to the activities.

Abstract: Various enhanced rocket fairings and associated mechanisms are discussed herein for split fairings with two fairing halves. In some implementations, electrically-actuated base clamps are included to deploy the rocket fairing by applying a spring force between a corresponding fairing half and a payload adapter, which directs movement of the fairing halves upwards and away from the payload adapter until release of the fairing halves. In other implementations, electrically-actuated fairing mechanisms are included to hold together a first fairing half and a second fairing half, and separate the first fairing half from the second fairing half using a spring force. In further implementations, one fairing half includes a tab feature configured to overlap a second fairing half. The tab feature can deform inward under a pressure differential between an exterior and a payload envelope to reduce a gap between the two fairing halves.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite system. In one example, a satellite system includes a plurality of satellite devices in non-geosynchronous orbit configured to establish a window within the non-geosynchronous orbit corresponding to an underlying object of interest by at least transferring state information related to execution of a software application payload from at least an outgoing satellite device leaving the window for receipt by at least a target satellite device entering the window. During orbital passage within the window, at least the target satellite device is configured to execute the software application payload in accordance with the state information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying software payloads to satellite devices, such as when a satellite device is in orbit. In one example, a satellite device includes a communication interface configured to receive one or more software payloads, and a storage system configured to store the one or more software payloads on the satellite device. The satellite device also includes a payload execution system configured to execute the one or more software payloads as one or more virtual nodes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying communication networks in clusters of satellite devices. In one example, a first set of satellite devices is configured to orbit in a first orbital configuration, and a second set of satellite devices is configured to orbit in a second orbital configuration. A communication network is formed among the satellite devices and is configured to selectively exchange communications among satellite devices in the first orbital configuration and satellite devices the second orbital configuration based at least in part on an operational status of the communication network.

Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to rocket engine components and rocket engine operational techniques. In one example, a rocket engine propellant injection apparatus is provided that includes a manifold formed into a single body by an additive manufacturing process and comprising a fuel cavity and an oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes one or more propellant feed stubs, the one or more propellant feed stubs protruding from the manifold and formed into the single body of the manifold by the additive manufacturing process, with at least a first stub configured to carry fuel to the fuel cavity and at least a second stub configured to carry oxidizer to the oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes a plurality of injection features formed by apertures in a face of the manifold, ones of the plurality of injection features configured to inject the fuel and the oxidizer for combustion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in spaceborne and airborne systems, among others. In one example, an airborne or spaceborne physical node comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads, and logistical control elements of the physical node. The physical node further comprises a virtualized execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads deployed on the physical node as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the physical node.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for computing platforms. In one example, a computing platform includes a plurality of computing devices, with one or more of the computing devices comprising specialized roles defined by at least one among software elements and hardware elements targeted to the specialized roles. Individual ones of the computing devices are configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the specialized roles, determine one or more target computing devices among the plurality of computing devices to handle the tasks based at least in part on attributes of the target computing devices, and transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the target computing devices for performing the tasks.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellite systems. In one example, a satellite system comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads, and logistical control elements of the satellite system. The satellite system further comprises a virtualized execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads deployed on the satellite system as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the satellite system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for spaceborne and airborne computing platforms. In one example, an airborne computing platform includes a plurality of airborne devices, with one or more of the airborne devices comprising specialized roles defined by at least one among software elements and hardware elements targeted to the specialized roles. Individual ones of the airborne devices are configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the specialized roles, determine one or more target devices to handle the tasks based at least in part on attributes of the target devices, and transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the target devices for performing the tasks.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite platform. In one example, a satellite system includes satellite devices in low-earth orbit (LEO) configured to establish a pseudo-geosynchronous configuration corresponding to a ground communication system by at least transferring instructions for traffic routing from outgoing satellite devices leaving the pseudo-geosynchronous window for receipt by target satellite devices entering the pseudo-geosynchronous window. During passage within the pseudo-geosynchronous window, the target satellite devices are each configured to route communications received in the target satellite devices from ones of the satellite devices through the ground communication system in accordance with the instructions for traffic routing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying communication networks in clusters of satellite devices. In one example, satellite devices are configured to orbit in an orbital layer defined by an orbital configuration. A communication network is formed among the satellite devices and configured to exchange communications in at least two oppositely circulating directions with respect to an orbital direction of the satellites in the orbital layer.

Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to rocket engine components and rocket engine operational techniques. In one example, a rocket engine propellant injection apparatus is provided that includes a manifold formed into a single body by an additive manufacturing process and comprising a fuel cavity and an oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes one or more propellant feed stubs, the one or more propellant feed stubs protruding from the manifold and formed into the single body of the manifold by the additive manufacturing process, with at least a first stub configured to carry fuel to the fuel cavity and at least a second stub configured to carry oxidizer to the oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes a plurality of injection features formed by apertures in a face of the manifold, ones of the plurality of injection features configured to inject the fuel and the oxidizer for combustion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellite systems. In one example, a satellite system comprises a communication interface configured to receive software payloads, and logistical control elements of the satellite system. The satellite system further comprises a virtualized execution system configured to execute ones of the software payloads deployed on the satellite system as associated virtual nodes that share resources of the satellite system.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for computing platforms. In one example, a computing platform includes a plurality of computing devices, with one or more of the computing devices comprising specialized roles defined by at least one among software elements and hardware elements targeted to the specialized roles. Individual ones of the computing devices are configured to identify tasks to be serviced using one or more of the specialized roles, determine one or more target computing devices among the plurality of computing devices to handle the tasks based at least in part on attributes of the target computing devices, and transfer at least task instructions for delivery to the target computing devices for performing the tasks.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying communication networks in clusters of satellite devices. In one example, satellite devices are configured to orbit in an orbital layer defined by an orbital configuration. A communication network is formed among the satellite devices and configured to exchange communications in at least two oppositely circulating directions with respect to an orbital direction of the satellites in the orbital layer.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for deploying applications in satellites. In one example, a satellite device includes a communication interface and a virtualized execution system. The virtualized execution system is configured to receive state information via the communication interface from at least a peer satellite device related to execution of one or more software payloads by the peer satellite device, and execute one or more virtual nodes based at least on the state information.