Abstract: The application provides a light expander/contractor device and method of using same, the light expander/contractor device comprising: a faceted quartz structure comprising a lateral surface communicating with a light processing surface at one end and communicating with a planar surface at an opposed end; the light processing surface comprising an initial surface extending from the lateral surface substantially parallel to the planar surface and having a distal end spaced from the lateral surface, the light processing surface further comprising multiple levels of facets comprising quartz-air interfaces: each level of facets comprising (a) a proximal facet surface relative to the lateral surface, the proximal facet surface extending away from the initial surface and toward the lateral surface at a 45° angle relative to the initial surface to communicate with (b) a facet planar surface spaced apart from and parallel to the initial surface to communicate with (c) a distal facet surface adjacent and substantially

Abstract: In one embodiment, the application provides a photon engine comprising one or more cylinders comprising: a primary prism and a secondary prism which may or may not comprise a linear switch, the primary prism comprising one or more light beam inlets and multiple internal faces comprising a primary back face, the secondary prism comprising multiple lateral faces and having a secondary back face positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from the primary back face, forming a non-transparent interface between the primary prism and the secondary prism; the primary prism comprising a light expander/contractor device communicating with the light beam inlet, the light expander/contractor device comprising facets adapted to produce a processed light beam by expanding the diameter of a light beam entering from a given direction; an optic switch comprising a piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled with the primary prism and/or the secondary prism and adapted to (a) compress the secondary back face relative to the primar

Abstract: The application provides a commercially feasible method of flying repeated orbital missions using a Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Orbital Vehicle.

Abstract: The application provides a space vehicle comprising a payload bay comprising a pressure vessel comprising a passenger bay module adapted to provide and maintain habitable conditions for twenty or more passengers during a mission traveling from earth to space and back to earth, the habitable conditions comprising (a) one or more service galley within the pressure vessel and adapted for access to the passenger bay module, and (b) the pressure vessel comprising a lavatory module physically separated from and rotatably abutting the passenger bay module, the lavatory module comprising an entry structure allowing access from the passenger bay module into the rotatably abutting lavatory module, the lavatory module comprising rotatable components comprising a lavatory component, the rotatable components being adapted to form the entry structure, wherein relative rotation of the rotatable components is adapted to produce sufficient centrifugal force in the lavatory component to maintain fluids in a sink and a toilet.

Abstract: A photon engine and variations thereof and methods of operating the photon engines, the photon engines comprising a primary prism and a secondary prism, the method and apparatus repeatedly imparting linear momentum to multiple reflective surfaces of the photon engine communicating with an energy system.