Abstract: A nozzle for a vehicle is disclosed. The nozzle includes a plurality of thrust chambers spaced relative to one another. Each thrust chamber has a throat and a nozzle portion extending aft of the throat. The nozzle portion has an exit dimension Dexit at an aft end. Each thrust chamber is spaced away from each adjacent thrust chamber by a respective spacing distance Dspace, such that Dspace?M*Dexit, where M?1.

Abstract: A reusable upper stage rocket or other atmospheric re-entry vehicle includes a nose, a base opposite the nose, and a propulsion engine toward the base. The propulsion engine includes a high pressure chamber and a nozzle configured to exhaust gas generated by the high pressure chamber. The nozzle includes an initial nozzle portion, a secondary nozzle portion downstream of the initial nozzle portion, and a nozzle exit at a downstream end of the secondary nozzle portion. The secondary nozzle portion includes an inner expansion surface, an outer expansion surface outboard of the inner expansion surface, and an expansion cavity defined between the inner expansion surface and the outer expansion surface.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a heat shield configured to define a windward side of the vehicle during travel of the vehicle in an atmospheric re-entry trajectory; a tank configured to store a coolant; a pump configured to receive the coolant from the tank and output a pressurized coolant; a heat exchanger configured to receive the pressurized coolant from the pump, transfer heat from the heat shield to the pressurized coolant to generate a heated fluid, and output the heated fluid; and a turbine configured to receive the heated fluid output from the heat exchanger, extract energy from the heated fluid, and power the pump using energy extracted from the heated fluid. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: An augmented aerospike nozzle includes a throat, a centerbody extending aft of the throat, an inner expansion surface defined by the centerbody, an outer expansion surface outboard of the inner expansion surface, and an expansion cavity defined between the inner expansion surface and the outer expansion surface. An engine includes a high pressure chamber and the augmented aerospike nozzle. A vehicle for supersonic flight includes the engine with the augmented aerospike nozzle.

Abstract: Techniques of item assembly testing that include: obtaining assembly information; generating, based on the assembly information, a bill of materials (BOM) including a listing of parts corresponding to a configuration of parts defined by the assembly information; generating, based on the listing of parts, a set of reference designators; obtaining an item label set; generating, based on the item label set and the set of reference designators, an assembly bill of materials (ABOM) that includes the labels associated with the parts reference designators; generating, for a test of the item assembly, a record of the ABOM; obtaining test data for parts of the item assembly (the item assembly tested having a configuration specified the ABOM); and generating a test results ABOM including test data for the parts associated with the labels for the reference designators associated with the parts.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: An actively-cooled heat shield system includes a heat shield, a tank, a pump, a heat exchanger, and a turbine. The heat shield defines a windward side of a vehicle. The tank stores a coolant. The pump receives the coolant from the tank and outputs a pressurized coolant. The heat exchanger is integrally connected with the heat shield. The heat exchanger receives the pressurized coolant from the pump, transfers heat from the heat shield to the pressurized coolant to generate a heated fluid, and outputs the heated fluid. The turbine includes an inlet, a shaft, and an outlet. The inlet receives the heated fluid output from the heat exchanger. The shaft is coupled to the pump and includes turbine blades. The shaft rotates and powers the pump when the heated fluid received from the heat exchanger acts on the turbine blades. The outlet outputs the heated fluid.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques of item assembly testing that include: obtaining assembly information; generating, based on the assembly information, a bill of materials (BOM) including a listing of parts corresponding to a configuration of parts defined by the assembly information; generating, based on the listing of parts, a set of reference designators; obtaining an item label set; generating, based on the item label set and the set of reference designators, an assembly bill of materials (ABOM) that includes the labels associated with the parts reference designators; generating, for a test of the item assembly, a record of the ABOM; obtaining test data for parts of the item assembly (the item assembly tested having a configuration specified the ABOM); and generating a test results ABOM including test data for the parts associated with the labels for the reference designators associated with the parts.

Abstract: A reusable upper stage rocket or other atmospheric re-entry vehicle includes a nose, a base opposite the nose, and a propulsion engine toward the base. The propulsion engine includes a high pressure chamber and a nozzle configured to exhaust gas generated by the high pressure chamber. The nozzle includes an initial nozzle portion, a secondary nozzle portion downstream of the initial nozzle portion, and a nozzle exit at a downstream end of the secondary nozzle portion. The secondary nozzle portion includes an inner expansion surface, an outer expansion surface outboard of the inner expansion surface, and an expansion cavity defined between the inner expansion surface and the outer expansion surface.

Abstract: An annular aerospike nozzle for a vehicle, such as an upper stage rocket, is disclosed. The annular aerospike nozzle includes a centerbody and a plurality of thrust chambers spaced around the centerbody. Each thrust chamber has a throat and a nozzle portion extending aft of the throat. The nozzle portion has an exit dimension Dexit at an aft end. Each thrust chamber is spaced away from adjacent thrust chambers by a spacing distance Dspace, such that Dspace?M*Dexit, where M?1.

Abstract: An aerospike nozzle for an upper stage rocket of a multi-stage rocket system includes a throat, a centerbody extending aft of the throat, and an expansion surface defined by the centerbody, wherein the centerbody is an annular aerospike having a base that at least partially defines an aft end of the upper stage rocket. An engine includes a high pressure chamber and the aerospike nozzle. A vehicle for supersonic flight includes the engine with the aerospike nozzle.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: An augmented aerospike nozzle includes a throat, a centerbody extending aft of the throat, an inner expansion surface defined by the centerbody, an outer expansion surface outboard of the inner expansion surface, and an expansion cavity defined between the inner expansion surface and the outer expansion surface. An engine includes a high pressure chamber and the augmented aerospike nozzle. A vehicle for supersonic flight includes the engine with the augmented aerospike nozzle.

Abstract: An annular aerospike nozzle for a vehicle, such as an upper stage rocket. is disclosed. The annular aerospike nozzle includes a centerbody and a plurality of thrust chambers spaced around the centerbody. Each thrust chamber has a throat and a nozzle portion extending aft of the throat. The nozzle portion has an exit dimension Dexit at an aft end. Each thrust chamber is spaced away from adjacent thrust chambers by a spacing distance Dspace, such that Dspace?M*Dexit, where M?1.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing resources and scheduling is disclosed. The system includes a client computer, software executable by the client computer for providing a user interface, a server in data communication with the client computer, a database for storing data in a hierarchical data structure, and a data fusion engine executing on the server. The hierarchical data structure includes a parent node and child nodes linked to the parent node. The data fusion engine is configured to log a workflow to at least one of the child nodes based on user input received via the user interface. A related method and software is also disclosed.

Abstract: An augmented aerospike nozzle includes a throat, a centerbody extending aft of the throat, an inner expansion surface defined by the centerbody, an outer expansion surface outboard of the inner expansion surface, and an expansion cavity defined between the inner expansion surface and the outer expansion surface. An engine includes a high pressure chamber and the augmented aerospike nozzle. A vehicle for supersonic flight includes the engine with the augmented aerospike nozzle.