Abstract: A rocket motor has an electrically operated propellant initiator for a propellant grain that includes an electrode arrangement configured to concentrate an electric field at an ignition electrode for igniting an electrically operated propellant. The rocket motor includes a combustion chamber containing at least one propellant grain and an electrically operated propellant initiator operatively coupled to the propellant grain to initiate combustion of the propellant grain. The electrically operated propellant initiator includes the electrically operated propellant and at least one pair of electrodes configured to ignite the electrically operated propellant. The pair of electrodes includes a ground plane electrode and an ignition electrode. When an electrical input is applied to the electrically operated propellant initiator, the electric field is concentrated at the ignition electrode to ignite the electrically operated propellant at the location where the ignition electrode is arranged.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine with a vortex flow field injection system that produces a high-speed sustained vortex flow field is described. The hybrid rocket engine includes a generally cylindrical injection chamber with an inner circumference to comprise an outer edge of a solid propellant grain in the hybrid rocket engine. The engine also includes an injection system that has a throttle valve and an injector that injects injection fluid into the engine and produces a vortex flow-field for the injected fluid. The injector includes at least one primary feed line that distributes the injection fluid throughout a pre-swirl chamber and multiple orifices along an inner edge of the injection chamber. The pre-swirl chamber connects to the injection chamber and at least one of the primary feed lines and redirects a primary fluid flow of the injected fluid from a primary axial direction to a centrifugal direction.

Abstract: A flight test system uses a flight termination destruct charge that is configured to overpressurize a pressure vessel in a rocket motor to terminate thrust. The flight termination destruct charge is an electroexplosive detonator arranged on a final burn surface of a propellant contained in the pressure chamber. In a multi-pulse rocket motor, one of the pulses is ignited by the activation of the detonator. The activated detonator is configured to ignite the propellant grain without venting of the gas resulting from the burning of the propellant. Due to the burning of the propellant, the surface area in the pressure vessel is increased which causes increased pressure in the pressure vessel until a critical pressure is reached. When the critical pressure is reached, the rocket motor casing structural capabilities are exceeded. The overpressurized rocket motor casing then ruptures and thrust of the rocket motor is terminated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for refueling a chemical propulsion system are provided. The systems can include multiple pressurant reservoirs to supply pressure to one or more fuel tanks. During a refueling operation, pressurant is released, fuel is added to the fuel tank, and then the fuel tank is repressurized using pressurant from a secondary pressurant tank. In other configurations, during a refueling operation pressurant is cooled to depressurize the fuel tank, fuel is added to the fuel tank, and then the pressurant is heated to repressurize the fuel tank. The systems and methods can be used to refuel operationally deployed space craft.

Abstract: A hybrid metal composite (HMC) structure comprises tiers comprising fiber composite material structures, and additional tiers longitudinally adjacent one or more of the tiers and comprising perforated metallic structures and additional fiber composite material structures laterally adjacent the perforated metallic structures. Methods of forming an HMC structure, and related rocket motors and multi-stage rocket motor assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a propulsion apparatus of liquid propellant rocket engine. The propulsion apparatus of liquid propellant rocket engine, the propulsion apparatus including: a body in which liquid propellant flows; an injector core located inside the body; at least one outlet connected to the injector core to discharge combustion gas; and an injector for discharging the liquid propellant flowing into the body, wherein the injector is located in an area adjacent to the outlet, wherein the liquid propellant moves between a frame of the body and a frame of the injector core.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of engine building technology and may be used in space technology or aviation. Liquid-propellant rockets with Laval nozzles are well known, and they have the following insufficiencies: (1) high fuel consumption rates, which lead to increased dimensions and engine weight and boosters; (2) a relatively low combustion efficiency, because the low mass of the combustion products are emitted into the environment; (3) the large length of the de Laval nozzles with increased expansion ratios increase the dimensions and the engine weight; (4) use of high temperature rocket propellants—combustion products—in the camera and de Laval nozzle. These insufficiencies suppress using liquid-propellant rockets in space technology. The goal of the invention is decreasing the influence of these insufficiencies and obtaining an engine with improved efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine, the exhaust nozzle comprising an outer frame extending along a longitudinal direction, a convergent petal pivotably attached to the frame and extending axially downstream and radially inward from the pivot, radially within the frame, and a sealing hinge arrangement between an upstream member and a downstream member of the exhaust nozzle. One of the upstream member or the downstream member defines a cylindrical socket having an opening along a cylinder axis which receives a corresponding cylindrical hinge element the other of the downstream member or upstream member, where the upstream member is defined by the frame and the downstream member is the convergent petal; or the exhaust nozzle further comprises a divergent petal downstream of the convergent petal and pivotably attached to the convergent petal, the upstream member being the convergent petal and the downstream member being the divergent petal.

Abstract: A readily combustible portion (110) includes a readily combustible exposed surface (111) that is exposed to a flow channel (CA). A combustion-resistant portion (140), which comprises a material that is more resistant to combustion than the readily combustible portion (110), covers an outer surface of the readily combustible portion (110) on the opposite side from the readily combustible exposed surface (111) in a direction orthogonal to a length direction parallel to a direction in which a hybrid rocket is propelled. The combustion-resistant portion (140) includes a thick portion (120) that serves as a stopper that prevents peeling of the readily combustible portion (110) from the combustion-resistant portion (140) in a direction from a starting end surface (100a) toward a terminating end surface (100b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting assembly with a spherical bearing for mounting a rocket engine and a rocket having such mounting assembly. The spherical bearing includes a spherical bearing base, a spherical retaining ring and a suspension link with a spherical end arranged in a space between the spherical bearing base and the spherical retaining ring. The spherical bearing base is part of an injector head of the rocket engine or is part of a fuel tank, the parts having a spherical shape.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core having a compressor section with a first compressor and a second compressor, a turbine section with a first turbine and a second turbine, and a primary flowpath fluidly connecting the compressor section and the turbine section. The first compressor is connected to the first turbine via a first shaft, the second compressor is connected to the second turbine via a second shaft, and a motor is connected to the first shaft such that rotational energy generated by the motor is translated to the first shaft. The gas turbine engine includes a takeoff mode of operation, a top of climb mode of operation, and at least one additional mode of operation. The gas turbine engine is undersized relative to a thrust requirement in at least one of the takeoff mode of operation and the top of climb mode of operation, and a controller is configured to control the mode of operation of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A multi-pulse gas generator includes a pressure vessel, first and second propellants, a barrier membrane that separates the first propellant and the second propellant, an igniter device that produces combustion gas of igniter charge, and an igniter charge combustion gas exhaust device having exhaust holes configured to exhaust the combustion gas of the igniter charge against the second propellant. The barrier membrane includes: a concavely-deformable portion; and a convexly-deformable portion. A flow rate of the combustion gas of the igniter charge exhausted against a portion of the second propellant located outside of the concavely-deformable portion is larger than that of the combustion gas of the igniter charge exhausted against a portion of the second propellant located outside of the convexly-deformable portion.

Abstract: Omnivorous solar thermal thrusters and adjustable cooling structures are disclosed. In one aspect, a solar thermal rocket engine includes a solar thermal thruster configured to receive solar energy and one or more propellants, and heat the one or more propellants using the solar energy to generate thrust. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use a plurality of different propellant types, either singly or in combination simultaneously. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use the one or more propellants in both liquid and gaseous states. Related structures can include valves and variable-geometry cooling channels in thermal contact with a thruster wall.

Abstract: A motor has an oxidizer injector, the oxidizer injector is mainly suitable for using in a combustion chamber, the oxidizer injector has a body having a first runner assembly and a second runner assembly arranged along an axis, the first runner assembly injects oxidizer into the combustion chamber to form a forward swirl, and the second runner assembly injects oxidizer into the combustion chamber to form a reverse swirl, the axial torsion generated by the forward swirl and the axial torsion generated by the reverse swirl counteract each other, so as to solve the problem of axial torsion imbalance in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A liquid rocket engine cools a thruster body by pumping propellant through cooling channels integrated in the thruster body between internal and external surfaces. One or more of the cooling channel surfaces has a variable depth along a thrust axis to mix propellant flow and destroy thermal stratification, such as a depth that varies with a repeated contiguous sinusoidal form along the thrust axis. Fuel passed through the cooling channels injects from the combustion chamber wall towards a central portion of the combustion chamber to cross impinge with oxygen injected at the combustion chamber head so that a toroidal vortex forms to enhance propellant mixing.

Abstract: A liquid rocket engine integrates tap-off openings at a combustion chamber wall to direct exhaust from the combustion chamber to a tap-off manifold that provides the exhaust to one or more auxiliary systems, such as a turbopump that pumps oxygen and/or fuel into the combustion chamber. The tap-off opening passes through a fuel channel formed in that combustion chamber exterior wall and receives fuel through a fuel opening that interfaces the fuel channel and tap-off opening. The tap-off manifold nests within a fuel manifold for thermal management. The fuel channel directs fuel into the combustion chamber through fuel port openings formed in the combustion chamber, the fuel port openings located closer to a headend of the combustion chamber than the tap-off openings.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section having a first compressor and a second compressor and a turbine section having a first turbine and a second turbine. The first compressor is connected to the first turbine via a first shaft and the second compressor is connected to the second turbine via a second shaft. A motor connected to the first shaft such that rotational energy generated by the motor is translated to the first shaft. A power distribution system connects the motor to a stored power system including at least one of an energy storage unit and a supplementary power unit. The power distribution system is configured to provide power from the stored power system to the motor.

Abstract: A supply system for supplying a rocket engine with at least one propellant, the supply system comprising at least one supply circuit able to circulate the propellant, and at least one reservoir in fluid communication with the supply circuit via at least one communication pipe, so that a fluid contained in the reservoir can flow from the latter up to the supply circuit, and vice versa, via said at least one communication pipe, the reservoir being able to contain a volume of gas, and heating means able to vary the volume of gas in the reservoir, the heating means being configured to vaporize the propellant in the reservoir.

Abstract: A mechanical decoupler (15) at the inlet to a turbomachine is positioned on the outside of an intake casing, where radiating arms (27) meet an external casing (13) so as to partially unload a low-pressure shaft when a significant out-of-balance appears. Because it is positioned a long way from the bearing, the decoupler (15) can be designed with a greater degree of freedom at a location where there is more space available and where layout constraints are less of an issue. More specifically, it is housed in a cavity (30) of the external casing (13) which opens onto the flow path (5).

Abstract: A multi-redundancy electromechanical servo system for regulating a liquid rocket engine, comprising a triple-redundancy servo controller (1), a double-redundancy servo driver (2), double-winding electromechanical actuators (4, 5), a triple-redundancy position sensor (6), a thrust regulator (8) and a mixed ratio regulator (9). Engine thrust, a mixed ratio regulation instruction and a feedback signal of the triple-redundancy position sensor are inputted to the triple-redundancy servo controller, and the triple-redundancy servo controller outputs thrust and mixed ratio regulation PWM wave control signals to the double-redundancy servo driver. The double-redundancy servo driver outputs a three-phase variable-frequency variable-amplitude sine wave current to drive the double-winding electromechanical actuators to drive the thrust regulator and the mixed ratio regulator to move, thus achieving engine thrust and mixed ratio regulation.