Abstract: The disclosed methods, systems, and kits provide the ability to deliver entire clean sheet designs from concept to first hot fire in under six weeks with instant specific impulses above 330 seconds in some of our engines. In examples, thrusters can be delivered that are at less than half of the mass budget allowable for them and they can be delivered in weeks.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality content items employs an ingest station which may digitize the content items, generate metadata corresponding to each of the content items, and store the metadata and the content items in a storage medium or mediums. The content items may be audio content, video content, or audio/video content. The system and method may provide an association between the metadata and a corresponding content item to facilitate retrieval of the content item. The content items may be retrieved, at least in part, by searching the metadata and employing the association between the metadata and a corresponding content item to locate the desired content item.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality content items employs an ingest station which may digitize the content items, generate metadata corresponding to each of the content items, and store the metadata and the content items in a storage medium or mediums. The content items may be audio content, video content, or audio/video content. The system and method may provide an association between the metadata and a corresponding content item to facilitate retrieval of the content item. The content items may be retrieved, at least in part, by searching the metadata and employing the association between the metadata and a corresponding content item to locate the desired content item.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality of content items employs a plurality of storage volumes that may be checked out, with or without previously archived content items stored on them, and that may be checked in, with or without new or changed content items stored on them. The content items may be audio content, video content, audio/video content, or the like. The plurality of storage volumes may be removable hard disk drives, virtual storage, storage locations on a storage device or devices, or the like. When a storage volume is checked in, embodiments of the system and method may detect whether new or changed content items are stored on the storage volume and any new or changed content items may be archived. When a content item is archived, the content may be stored along with related metadata and with an association between the content item and the related metadata.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality of content items employs a plurality of storage volumes that may be checked out, with or without previously archived content items stored on them, and that may be checked in, with or without new or changed content items stored on them. The content items may be audio content, video content, audio/video content, or the like. The plurality of storage volumes may be removable hard disk drives, virtual storage, storage locations on a storage device or devices, or the like. When a storage volume is checked in, embodiments of the system and method may detect whether new or changed content items are stored on the storage volume and any new or changed content items may be archived. When a content item is archived, the content may be stored along with related metadata and with an association between the content item and the related metadata.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality content items employs an ingest station which may digitize the content items, generate metadata corresponding to each of the content items, and store the metadata and the content items in a storage medium or mediums. The content items may be audio content, video content, or audio/video content. The system and method may provide an association between the metadata and a corresponding content item to facilitate retrieval of the content item. The content items may be retrieved, at least in part, by searching the metadata and employing the association between the metadata and a corresponding content item to locate the desired content item.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides enhanced surround sound effects. In one embodiment, 90.degree. phase shift and copy of the modified head related transfer functions (HRTF) are applied to each rear sound signal. The modified HRTF for each rear signal is generated by removing the head related transfer function corresponding to the front center signal from the HRTF corresponding to the rear sound signal. This provides the audible effect of distinguishing more clearly sounds originating in front of the listener or to the rear of the listener while not limiting the perceived bandwidth of the signal. The rear signals corresponding to the first channel are inverted. The front and rear signals for each corresponding channel are then combined. The two channels, generated can be stored on media, such as film, and subsequently read and input to a surround sound decoder to generate enhanced surround sound output.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides enhanced surround sound effects. In one embodiment, 90.degree. phase shift and copy of the modified head related transfer functions (HRTF) are applied to each rear sound signal. The modified HRTF for each rear signal is generated by removing the head related transfer function corresponding to the front center signal from the HRTF corresponding to the rear sound signal. This provides the audible effect of distinguishing more clearly sounds originating in front of the listener or to the rear of the listener while not limiting the perceived bandwidth of the signal. The rear signals corresponding to the first channel are inverted. The front and rear signals for each corresponding channel are then combined. The two channels, generated can be stored on media, such as film, and subsequently read and input to a surround sound decoder to generate enhanced surround sound output.

Abstract: A photosensitive medium, such as motion picture film, having digital audio signals photographically recorded thereon. If the medium has multiple, spatially separated digital and analog audio soundtracks, a photosensitive detector array is employed for each of the digital audio soundtrack areas, and a separate analog soundtrack read head is employed. Preferably, digital error code is recorded in a digital soundtrack area of the medium (with digital audio bits), and error detection and correction are performed on the recorded digital audio bits read from the medium. Preferably, the apparatus includes switching circuitry for substituting a corresponding analog audio signal for one or more corrupted digital soundtrack channels, when such digital soundtrack channels have an error rate which exceeds a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for photographically recording digital audio signals, and a medium having digital audio signals photographically recorded thereon. In a preferred embodiment, a motion picture film recorded in accordance with the invention has multiple digital audio soundtracks and an analog audio soundtrack photographically recorded thereon. Two or more channels of digital audio information can be recorded in each digital soundtrack, along with additional digital information for clocking, tracking, and error detection and correction. Each digital soundtrack is recorded in an array of bit areas arranged in row and column order. In a class of preferred embodiments, each row of digital audio bits is recorded simultaneously by exposing the film to radiation that has been modulated by a linear shutter array. The radiation transmitted by each shutter array is projected onto a row of spots. Each spot covers the full width of one of the bit areas in a row, but only part of the length of the bit area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading digital audio signals photographically recorded on a medium (such as motion picture film). If the medium has multiple, spatially separated digital and analog audio soundtracks, a photosensitive detector array is employed for each of the digital audio soundtrack areas, and a separate analog soundtrack read head is employed. Preferably, digital error code is recorded in a digital soundtrack area of the medium (with digital audio bits), and error detection and correction are performed on the recorded digital audio bits read from the medium. Preferably, the apparatus includes switching circuitry for substituting a corresponding analog audio signal for one or more corrupted digital soundtrack channels, when such digital soundtrack channels have an error rate which exceeds a selected threshold.

Abstract: The process involves subjecting finely divided particles of copper-bearing mineral sulphide ores or concentrates to a first stage leach in which the particles are leached in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the presence of free oxygen to provide a first stage leach slurry which contains dissolved copper values. Residue is separated from the first stage leach slurry and is subjected to attrition in order to rub off an outer layer therefrom and expose surfaces of the residue beneath the layer. The resulting residue is passed to a second stage leach which is carried out in the same way as the first leach. Solution is removed from the second leach stage and is recycled to the first leach stage. The first stage leach solution is further treated for recovery of copper and ammonium sulphate.