Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a hybrid liquid propellant rocket engine. In an embodiment, the engine includes a first pump powered by a first turbine, a second pump powered by a second turbine, and a gas generator. An output of the gas generator is connected to the first turbine and the second turbine. The engine further includes a third pump powered by a third turbine, a fourth pump powered by a fourth turbine, and a nozzle having an expander cycle in a wall and a combustion chamber. An output of the third pump is connected to the expander cycle and an output of the wall is connected to the third turbine and the fourth turbine. An output of the fourth pump, an output of the third turbine, and an output of the fourth turbine are connected to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a hybrid liquid propellant rocket engine. In an embodiment, the engine includes a first pump powered by a first turbine, a second pump powered by a second turbine, and a gas generator. An output of the gas generator is connected to the first turbine and the second turbine. The engine further includes a third pump powered by a third turbine, a fourth pump powered by a fourth turbine, and a nozzle having an expander cycle in a wall and a combustion chamber. An output of the third pump is connected to the expander cycle and an output of the wall is connected to the third turbine and the fourth turbine. An output of the fourth pump, an output of the third turbine, and an output of the fourth turbine are connected to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A rocket-powered, air-deployed, lift-assisted booster vehicle (ALBV) is disclosed for efficiently carrying small payloads to orbital, supraorbital or suborbital altitudes and velocities. The ALBV is secured beneath a conventional carrier aircraft and dropped therefrom at launch altitude and velocity, which contributes significant total energy to the ALBV's ascent trajectory. The ALBV has wings, which generate aerodynamic lift to assist in vehicle ascent, and tail fins, which perform attitude control while the vehicle is in the sensible atmosphere. After drop launch, an innovative "vertical-S" maneuver is performed using aerodynamic control, causing the ALBV to ascend on a near-theoretical optimal trajectory. In the preferred embodiment, the wings and tail fins are jettisoned as the vehicle exits the sensible atmosphere and aerodynamic lift ceases.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for identifying specific medical conditions from detected stethoscopic sounds. More particularly, the invention relates to the processing of such sounds electronically and the display of the time-variations of the spectral composition of such sounds. The invention is embodied in an accessory package designed to enable a host computer to perform computerized stethoscopic analysis.