Abstract: A coupling system is utilized to form a multi-part rocket engine thrust compartment that maintains inner channels within walls of the thrust compartment for regenerative cooling. The coupling system includes an insert joint arranged between joint faces of a first segment and a second segment. The first segment and the second segment include inner edges that, when jointed together, form an inner wall. The joint insert is installed between the first segment and the second segment after the inner wall is formed and coupled to the first segment and the second segment. The joint faces of the first segment and the second segment include extending feature to form a flow passage along with cavities at least partially defined by the joint insert.

Abstract: A deployable membrane structure for an antenna comprises a membrane comprising a plurality of first regions of higher-stiffness material integrally connected via one or more second regions of lower-stiffness material, wherein the one or more second regions are formed from compliant material configured to permit the membrane to be folded into a collapsed configuration and subsequently unfolded into a deployed configuration, and are arranged so as to allow adjacent ones of the plurality of first regions to be folded so as to lie against one another. In some embodiments the membrane is formed of a composite material comprising a plurality of fibres in a compliant matrix, and the plurality of first regions comprise material with a higher fibre density than the one or more second regions. A deployable antenna comprising the deployable membrane structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A navigation processing system includes at least one processor configured to execute operational instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include generating navigation data. A data stream is generated based on the navigation data and a data channel spreading sequence. A pilot stream is generated based on a pilot channel spreading sequence. A navigation signal is generated based on applying a bandwidth-efficient modulation scheme to the data stream and the pilot stream. The navigation is signal is broadcast via a navigation signal transmitter for receipt by at least one client device.

Abstract: A low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite includes a non-atomic clock configured to generate a clock signal, a navigation signal receiving and processing module, and a navigation signal generation and transmission module. The navigation signal receiving and processing module is configured to receive the clock signal from the non-atomic clock, receive first signaling including first timing data generated based on a high precision clock, and generate clock state data based on the clock signal and the first timing data. The navigation signal generation and transmission module is configured to receive the clock signal from the non-atomic clock, generate a navigation message that indicates the clock state data, generate a broadcast carrier signal by utilizing the clock signal, generate a navigation signal based on modulating the navigation message upon the broadcast carrier signal, and broadcast the navigation signal for receipt by at least one client device.

Abstract: A satellite orbiting in one of a plurality of orbital planes of a satellite constellation system at an altitude range corresponding to low earth orbit includes at least one processor configured to generate satellite state data, and to generate a navigation signal based on the satellite state data. The satellite includes at least one transmitter configured to transmit the navigation signal for receipt by at least one client device on earth. Each of the plurality of orbital planes includes a corresponding one of a plurality of satellite subsets of a plurality of satellites of the satellite constellation system. Each of the plurality of orbital planes is within the altitude range, and the plurality of orbital planes includes a set of inclined orbital planes at a non-polar inclination.

Abstract: A deployable reflector for an antenna is disclosed. The deployable reflector comprises a deployable membrane configured to adopt a pre-formed shape in a deployed configuration, and an electrically conductive mesh disposed on a surface of the membrane wherein the electrically conductive mesh is configured to permit relative lateral movement between the electrically conductive mesh and the membrane during deployment of the reflector. In the deployed configuration, the conductive mesh adopts the shape of the membrane and forms a reflective surface of the reflector. A method of manufacturing the deployable reflector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pulsed metal plasma thruster (MPT) cube has a plurality of thrusters, each having a first cathode electrode and a trigger electrode separated from the first electrode by an insulator sufficient to support an initiation plasma, and a porous anode electrode positioned a separation distance from the face of all of the cathode electrodes. The cathode electrode can be either the inner electrode or the outer electrode. A power supply delivers a high voltage pulse to the trigger electrode with respect to the cathode electrode sufficient to initiate a plasma on the surface of the insulator. The plasma transfers between the anode electrode and cathode electrode of selected thrusters, thereby generating a pulse of thrust.

Abstract: A low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite includes a global positioning receiver configured to receive first signaling from a first plurality of non-LEO navigation satellites of a constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites in non-LEO around the earth. An inter-satellite transceiver is configured to send and receive inter-satellite communications with other LEO navigation satellites in a constellation of LEO navigation satellites. At least one processor is configured to execute operational instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include: determining an orbital position of the LEO satellite based on applying precise point positioning (PPP) correction data to the first signaling, wherein the PPP correction data is received separately from the first signaling; and generating a navigation message based on the orbital position.

Abstract: A node of a satellite constellation system includes a global positioning receiver configured to receive first signaling from a first plurality of non-LEO navigation satellites of a constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites in non-LEO around the earth. A transceiver is configured to send and receive inter-node communications with other nodes of the satellite constellation system. At least one processor is configured to execute operational instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include: determining a state of the node of the satellite constellation system based on applying precise point positioning (PPP) correction data to the first signaling, wherein the PPP correction data is received separately from the first signaling; and generating a navigation message based on the state of the node.

Abstract: A deployable membrane structure for an antenna comprises a membrane comprising a plurality of first regions of higher-stiffness material integrally connected via one or more second regions of lower-stiffness material, wherein the one or more second regions are formed from compliant material configured to permit the membrane to be folded into a collapsed configuration and subsequently unfolded into a deployed configuration, and are arranged so as to allow adjacent ones of the plurality of first regions to be folded so as to lie against one another. In some embodiments the membrane is formed of a composite material comprising a plurality of fibres in a compliant matrix, and the plurality of first regions comprise material with a higher fibre density than the one or more second regions. A deployable antenna comprising the deployable membrane structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: An on-orbit recycling method for a buffer foam of a cargo spacecraft includes the following steps: mechanically cutting a shaped PU foam into foam micro-blocks, and putting the foam micro-blocks into a packaging bag for packaging, where the packaging bag is filled with a foaming adhesive; the foaming adhesive includes a component A and a component B, which are independently packaged in a two-component packaging bag; and the component A and the component B are separated by a film; and squeezing the film between the component A and the component B, such that the two components are fully mixed, foamed and expanded to finally burst the two-component packaging bag, where after the packaging bag is burst, the foaming adhesive expands into gaps of the foam micro-blocks; and in a microgravity state of space, the foaming adhesive expands and fills uniformly in all directions and fully infiltrates the foam micro-blocks.

Abstract: A system for analyzing a volatile component in extraterrestrial soil through penetration heating induction includes the following: a penetration heater, provided therein with a volatile component measurement and analysis module configured to analyze a volatile component in a detected medium; a gas capture hole, provided on a side wall of the penetration heater and used to divert the volatile component in the detected medium to the volatile component measurement and analysis module; a temperature acquisition module, disposed on the penetration heater and configured to acquire a temperature of the detected medium; and a heating module, disposed on the penetration heater and configured to acquire the temperature of the detected medium. The system has a compact structure, a simple function, and low engineering costs, and can directly detect and analyze a volatile component in deep extraterrestrial soil.

Abstract: A flow distributor for a heat transfer device having a plurality of channels includes a sheath defining a plurality of distributor holes, each distributor hole configured to be in fluid communication with a respective channel inlet of each channel of the heat transfer device and an insert defining a plurality of fluid channels therein and a fluid inlet, each fluid channel in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. The insert is disposed within the sheath to seal the fluid channels with each fluid channel in fluid communication with a respective one of the distribution holes. The fluid inlet includes an inner inlet and an outer inlet radially outward from the inner inlet for mixing a fluid flow in the fluid inlet for evenly distributing fluid flow (e.g., a two phase flow) into the fluid channels of the insert and into each channel of the heat transfer device.

Abstract: A low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite includes a global positioning receiver configured to receive first signaling from a first plurality of non-LEO navigation satellites of a constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites in non-LEO around the earth. An inter-satellite transceiver is configured to send and receive inter-satellite communications with other LEO navigation satellites in a constellation of LEO navigation satellites. At least one processor is configured to execute operational instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include: determining an orbital position of the LEO satellite based on applying precise point positioning (PPP) correction data to the first signaling, wherein the PPP correction data is received separately from the first signaling; and generating a navigation message based on the orbital position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for use in collection and removal of slurry or similar from a sty, a sty comprising such a device and to a method of installing a device at a sty, such as a pig sty, wherein the device comprises an one-piece body (2) having one or more funnels (3) wherein each funnel comprises at least one upper opening (3a) having an upper horizontal area enclosed by an upper edge (3a?) and a lower opening (3b) having a lower horizontal area enclosed by a lower edge (3b?), wherein the upper horizontal area is larger than the lower horizontal area, and the inside (3?) of the funnel is thus extending from the upper opening to the lower opening of the funnel, an encapsulation (4) enclosing the funnel from the lower edge of the funnel to the upper edge of the funnel, such that a ventilation space (5) is defined within the one-piece body between the encapsulation and the funnel.

Abstract: A deployable membrane structure for an antenna comprises a membrane comprising a plurality of first regions of higher-stiffness material integrally connected via one or more second regions of lower-stiffness material, wherein the one or more second regions are formed from compliant material configured to permit the membrane to be folded into a collapsed configuration and subsequently unfolded into a deployed configuration, and are arranged so as to allow adjacent ones of the plurality of first regions to be folded so as to lie against one another. In some embodiments the membrane is formed of a composite material comprising a plurality of fibres in a compliant matrix, and the plurality of first regions comprise material with a higher fibre density than the one or more second regions. A deployable antenna comprising the deployable membrane structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A navigation processing system includes at least one processor configured to execute operational instructions that cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include generating navigation data. A data stream is generated based on the navigation data and a data channel spreading sequence. A pilot stream is generated based on a pilot channel spreading sequence. A navigation signal is generated based on applying a bandwidth-efficient modulation scheme to the data stream and the pilot stream. The navigation is signal is broadcast via a navigation signal transmitter for receipt by at least one client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) artifact suppression for enhanced three-dimensional feature extraction, change detection, and/or visualizations are described. In some aspects, the described systems and methods include a method for suppressing artifacts from complex SAR data associated with a scene. In some aspects, the described systems and methods include a method for creating a photo-realistic 3D model of a scene based on complex SAR data associated with a scene. In some aspects, the described systems and methods include a method for identifying three-dimensional (3D) features and changes in SAR imagery.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of constructing a landing pad using a rocket engine while in-flight. Among other benefits, this method can reduce ejecta that otherwise would occur during landing on an unimproved surface. While a spacecraft is hovering over an unimproved surface, the spacecraft can inject particles into its rocket engine, after which the particles absorb heat from the engine and are projected at ballistic speeds toward the unimproved surface to create a landing pad. After constructing the landing pad and waiting for the landing pad to cool, the spacecraft can land on the landing pad. Also described herein are landing pads created from such particles as they impact the surface in a disc splat mode into the unimproved surface.

Abstract: A spacecraft includes an additive manufacturing (A/M) subsystem and one or both of a thermal control arrangement and a contamination control arrangement. The A/M subsystem includes an A/M tool, feedstock and a workpiece and is configured to additively manufacture the workpiece using material from the feedstock. The thermal control arrangement is operable, in an on-orbit space environment characterized by near vacuum pressure and near zero-g force, to maintain temperature of at least one of the A/M tool, the feedstock, and the workpiece within respective specified ranges. The contamination control arrangement is operable, in the on-orbit space environment, to control outgassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).