Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for sensing and measuring refractive disturbances through a specified area and/or medium. A laser emits a beam that travels through a test region and is received by a sensor. The sensor detects a deflection of the beam that is caused by the passage of the beam through a refractive disturbance in the test region. A controller, including a processor and memory, is configured to detect a change in a refractive index caused by the passage of a refractive disturbance through a specified area, such as, the passage of different fluids through an area, a change in density of the fluid, a shockwave, and/or turbulence. The controller is configured to measure and calculate disturbances within the test region based on detected changes in the refractive index.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing thermal radiation flux are disclosed. A first layer includes a first outer surface and a first inner surface. The first outer surface receives incident thermal radiation and the first inner surface emits transmitted thermal radiation. A second layer is spaced apart from the first layer and includes a second inner surface that faces the first inner surface and receives the transmitted thermal radiation. A vacuum layer is positioned between the first layer and second layer. A first sensor collects first thermal data including a first thermal measurement of the first inner surface. A second sensor collects second thermal data including a second thermal measurement of the second inner surface. A controller is configured to determine a thermal radiation flux of the transmitted thermal radiation based on, at least in part, a comparison of the first thermal data and the second thermal data.

Abstract: A method of making a fuel grain for use in a rocket motor, the method comprising blending a first energetic nanoscale metallic compound and a second compound suitable to form a feedstock material for use in an additive manufacturing apparatus, the additive manufacturing apparatus operatively connected to a computing system, that provides additive manufacturing printing instructions to the additive manufacturing apparatus, permitting construction of an autonomously designed and optimized rocket fuel grain section; wherein the stochastic deposition simulation-assisted fuel grain geometries further comprise a plurality of agglutinated layers of solidified fuel grain compound, each layer of the plurality of layers comprising a plurality of blended and radially displaced beads of different radii, said radial displacement optionally optimized via competitive simulation programs, and wherein the system continuously mixes constituent materials in an inline/static mixer, with viscosity controlled via particle size var

Abstract: A method of making a fuel grain for use in a rocket motor, the method comprising blending a first energetic nanoscale metallic compound and a second compound suitable to form a feedstock material for use in an additive manufacturing apparatus, the additive manufacturing apparatus operatively connected to a computing system, that provides additive manufacturing printing instructions to the additive manufacturing apparatus, permitting construction of an autonomously designed and optimized rocket fuel grain section; wherein the stochastic deposition simulation-assisted fuel grain geometries further comprise a plurality of agglutinated layers of solidified fuel grain compound, each layer of the plurality of layers comprising a plurality of blended and radially displaced beads of different radii, said radial displacement optionally optimized via competitive simulation programs, and wherein the system continuously mixes constituent materials in an inline/static mixer, with viscosity controlled via particle size var