Abstract: A microgreen product and a method relate to a microgreen characterized by a husky, shorter, thicker main stem reaching a harvested height of about one inch, with larger leaves, and is further characterized by a deeper color of green or red with a more intense taste and longer shelf life, such as at least ten days.

Abstract: Technology for predicting and correcting a trajectory is described. The technology can create a model to predict a position of the reusable launch vehicle at a time in the future; observe a wind condition during ascent of the reusable launch vehicle; store the observed wind condition in a wind map; predict during ascent a position and a terminal lateral velocity of the reusable launch vehicle at a terminal altitude; and correct a flight trajectory of the reusable launch vehicle based on the wind map.

Abstract: A contoured roller set and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A male roller having a convex surface and a pair of female rollers each having a concave surface can receive a generally thin sheet of material and impart a doubly-curved shape to the sheet. The convex and concave surfaces of the male and female rollers can have a radius of curvature chosen to match a radius of curvature of the sheet of material. The rollers are positioned and shaped to urge the sheet between the female rollers to cause the sheet to curve toward the male roller.

Abstract: Launch vehicle systems and methods for landing and recovering a booster stage and/or other portions thereof on a platform at sea or on another body of water are disclosed. In one embodiment, a reusable space launch vehicle is launched from a coastal launch site in a trajectory over water. After booster engine cutoff and upper stage separation, the booster stage reenters the earth's atmosphere in a tail-first orientation. The booster engines are then restarted and the booster stage performs a vertical powered landing on the deck of a pre-positioned sea-going platform. In one embodiment, bidirectional aerodynamic control surfaces control the trajectory of the booster stage as it glides through the earth's atmosphere toward the sea-going platform. The sea-going platform can broadcast its real-time position to the booster stage so that the booster stage can compensate for errors in the position of the sea-going platform due to current drift and/or other factors.

Abstract: Vehicles with bidirectional control surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a rocket can include a plurality of bidirectional control surfaces positioned toward an aft portion of the rocket. In this embodiment, the bidirectional control surfaces can be operable to control the orientation and/or flight path of the rocket during both ascent, in a nose-first orientation, and descent, in a tail-first orientation for, e.g., a tail-down landing.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for an electronic escrow intermediary application that permits a buyer and seller to conduct a digital escrow transaction involving a third-party intermediary. An electronic transaction can occur through a third-party electronic commerce application or through the escrow intermediary application itself. Registration of a buyer and a seller is verified and either party is permitted to choose a registered third-party intermediary. After a purchase is made by a buyer, the terms and regulations associated with the transaction are transmitted to the third-party intermediary. The purchase money is placed in an escrow account until verification has been received by the third-party intermediary that the item has been delivered, complies with government regulations, and is, in fact, what the seller represents. Upon verification, the purchase money is distributed according to the terms of the transaction to the seller and to the third-party intermediary.

Abstract: Inflatable rings for supporting friction welding workpieces, and associated systems and methods. A support assembly for joining multiple workpieces in a representative embodiment includes a carriage and a generally ring-shaped support member that in turn includes a body and at least one inflatable member carried by the body and positioned to expand from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: Technology is described for enabling a reusable launch vehicle to compensate for wind prior to engaging propulsion during approach to landing. The technology can cause the reusable launch vehicle to begin un-powered descent; determine a first rotation angle of the reusable launch vehicle about a specified vertical descent path, the first rotation angle corresponding to a first attitude of the reusable launch vehicle selected to stabilize the reusable launch vehicle on the vertical descent path based on a wind speed and angle; and prior to engaging a propulsion device, command a second rotation angle for the reusable launch vehicle, the second rotation angle corresponding to a second attitude that, when the propulsion device is engaged, will cause the reusable launch vehicle to remain at least approximately at the vertical descent path.

Abstract: Launch vehicles with fixed and deployable deceleration surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a launch vehicle that has a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end, and is elongated along a vehicle axis extending between the first and second ends. The vehicle carries an exposed outwardly facing surface having a first region positioned or positionable to have a first cross-sectional area generally normal to the vehicle axis toward the first end of the vehicle, and a second region positioned or positionable to have a second cross-sectional area generally normal to the vehicle axis toward the second end of the vehicle. The first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area. The system can further include a propulsion system carried by the launch vehicle and having at least one nozzle positioned toward the first end of the vehicle to launch the launch vehicle.

Abstract: Modular friction welding heads and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A friction welding system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a carrier fixture positioned to carry a workpiece, a head support positioned proximate to the carrier fixture, and a modular friction welding head releasably carried by the head support. At least one of the carrier fixture and the head support can have a guide structure with a constrained motion path positioned to guide relative motion between the modular friction welding head and the carrier fixture. A controller can be operatively coupled to the modular friction welding head and programmed with instructions to control the operation of the friction welding head.

Abstract: Inflatable rings for supporting friction welding workpieces, and associated systems and methods. A support assembly for joining multiple workpieces in a representative embodiment includes a carriage and a generally ring-shaped support member that in turn includes a body and at least one inflatable member carried by the body and positioned to expand from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: Eyeball seals for a gimbaled rocket engines, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a rocket body, an engine carried by and movable relative to the rocket body, and a seal assembly. The seal assembly can include a sealing surface carried by one of the rocket body and the engine, and a seal element carried by the other of the rocket body and the engine. The seal element is in contact with the sealing surface. The seal assembly can further include a cylinder and a piston slideably received in the cylinder, with one of the piston and the cylinder carrying the seal element. The cylinder includes ports that are in fluid communication with a region external to the rocket body. Accordingly, pressures external to the rocket body can force the seal element and/or the sealing surface into contact with each other.

Abstract: A contoured roller set and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A male roller having a convex surface and a pair of female rollers each having a concave surface can receive a generally thin sheet of material and impart a doubly-curved shape to the sheet. The convex and concave surfaces of the male and female rollers can have a radius of curvature chosen to match a radius of curvature of the sheet of material. The rollers are positioned and shaped to urge the sheet between the female rollers to cause the sheet to curve toward the male roller.

Abstract: Launch vehicle systems and methods for landing and recovering a booster stage and/or other portions thereof on a platform at sea or on another body of water are disclosed. In one embodiment, a reusable space launch vehicle is launched from a coastal launch site in a trajectory over water. After booster engine cutoff and upper stage separation, the booster stage reenters the earth's atmosphere in a tail-first orientation. The booster engines are then restarted and the booster stage performs a vertical powered landing on the deck of a pre-positioned sea-going platform. In one embodiment, bidirectional aerodynamic control surfaces control the trajectory of the booster stage as it glides through the earth's atmosphere toward the sea-going platform. The sea-going platform can broadcast its real-time position to the booster stage so that the booster stage can compensate for errors in the position of the sea-going platform due to current drift and/or other factors.

Abstract: Multiple-use rocket engines and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes launching a two-stage vehicle have a first stage and a second stage carried by the first stage. The first stage can be powered with a first rocket engine having first rocket engine components, including a first combustion chamber, arranged in a first component configuration. The method can further include separating the second stage from the first stage, and powering the second stage with a second rocket engine having second engine components arranged in a second component configuration. The second rocket engine components can include a second combustion chamber that is interchangeable with the first combustion chamber. In further particular embodiments, recovered engine components from the first stage may be used to power the second stage of the same or a different two-stage vehicle.

Abstract: Vehicles with bidirectional control surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a rocket can include a plurality of bidirectional control surfaces positioned toward an aft portion of the rocket. In this embodiment, the bidirectional control surfaces can be operable to control the orientation and/or flight path of the rocket during both ascent, in a nose-first orientation, and descent, in a tail-first orientation for, e.g., a tail-down landing.

Abstract: Launch vehicles with fixed and deployable deceleration surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a launch vehicle that has a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end, and is elongated along a vehicle axis extending between the first and second ends. The vehicle carries an exposed outwardly facing surface having a first region positioned or positionable to have a first cross-sectional area generally normal to the vehicle axis toward the first end of the vehicle, and a second region positioned or positionable to have a second cross-sectional area generally normal to the vehicle axis toward the second end of the vehicle. The first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area. The system can further include a propulsion system carried by the launch vehicle and having at least one nozzle positioned toward the first end of the vehicle to launch the launch vehicle.

Abstract: A cardboard display case for DVDs and the like has a box-like case of folded cardboard with a plurality of shelves on three sides for displaying goods. A retractable pop-up display header extends above the top face of the case near the back. There is a hollow inside the case so that the header can be retracted within the case for shipping. When at a retail store, for example, the header is pulled up to display graphics above the top of the case. A folded cardboard member within the case has a retractable shelf supporting the header when extended above the case. The shelf is folded out of the way when the header is retracted within the case.