Abstract: An aerospike engine configured to be connected to a liquid methane tank, and to a liquid oxygen tank is provided. The aerospike engine comprises a centerbody including an aerospike nozzle, an external skirt, and a combustion chamber being defined between the external skirt and the centerbody. The centerbody is additively manufactured from one or more copper alloys and has a plurality of centerbody internal cooling channels. The external skirt is additively manufactured from one or more copper alloys and has a plurality of skirt internal cooling channels. The aerospike engine is configured to supply liquid methane and liquid oxygen through the internal cooling channels to the combustion chamber. Also disclosed are stages of a launch vehicle and a launch vehicle comprising such an aerospike engine, as well as methods for re-entry for a re-usable stage of a launch vehicle comprising an aerospike engine.

Abstract: A stage for a space launch vehicle is provided. The space launch vehicle has a main body including a first end and a second end, and defines a central longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The stage comprises a stage rocket engine arranged at or near the first end of the stage to propel the launch vehicle vertically upwards at take-off. The stage furthermore comprises a plurality of fans for providing lift during a landing procedure of the stage, wherein the fans have a rotational axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Also provided are space launch vehicles and methods for transporting a payload into space.

Abstract: A jewel includes a main body and at least one wireless communication device accommodated within a cavity formed in the main body. The at least one communication device is arranged slanting with respect to a bottom wall of the cavity, partly accommodated in an undercut region of the cavity and spaced from the bottom wall and from walls at opposed ends of the cavity, whereby propagation of the signal in the space between the at least one communication device and the walls of the cavity is allowed.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimized trajectory to be followed by an aircraft, the method being implemented by a determining system of the aircraft and comprising: a first step for acquiring at least one constraint relative to at least one parameter of the trajectory to be followed, the constraint being determined by a control system of a remote station as a function of the air traffic and/or the aircraft mission; a step for calculating a desired trajectory as a function of the constraint; a step for transmitting the desired trajectory to the remote station; a second step for acquiring an instruction comprising an authorization to follow the desired trajectory or a refusal of the desired trajectory.

Abstract: Method for detecting a state of a switching unit, the switching unit comprising an element that is movable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: Method for detecting a state of a switching unit, the switching unit comprising an element that is movable between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A litter sifter liner used to facilitate the cleanup process of a convention litter box. Additionally, the litter sifter liner is designed to recycle the litter on a daily basis minimizing waste and maintaining upkeep. To achieve this, the liner has a sifter with a reinforced liner, and a plurality of identification tabs. The sifter is mounted into the base panel of the liner and positioned centrally with respect to the litter box sidewalls. This allows the transfer of litter to be contained within the perimeter of the litter box. The plurality of tabs are positioned offset with respect to each other. This indicates the total number of bags left for usage.

Abstract: A litter sifter liner used to facilitate the cleanup process of a convention litter box. Additionally, the litter sifter liner is designed to recycle the litter on a daily basis minimizing waste and maintaining upkeep. To achieve this, the liner has a sifter with a reinforced liner, and a plurality of identification tabs. The sifter is mounted into the base panel of the liner and positioned centrally with respect to the litter box sidewalls. This allows the transfer of litter to be contained within the perimeter of the litter box. The plurality of tabs are positioned offset with respect to each other. This indicates the total number of bags left for usage.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimized trajectory to be followed by an aircraft, the method being implemented by a determining system of the aircraft and comprising: a first step for acquiring at least one constraint relative to at least one parameter of the trajectory to be followed, the constraint being determined by a control system of a remote station as a function of the air traffic and/or the aircraft mission; a step for calculating a desired trajectory as a function of the constraint; a step for transmitting the desired trajectory to the remote station; a second step for acquiring an instruction comprising an authorization to follow the desired trajectory or a refusal of the desired trajectory.

Abstract: A portable control device designed to control contacts of an electrical switch, and including a main drive shaft, a holding shaft, a motor for driving the main shaft and a microcontroller for controlling the motor. In a first direction of insertion, the main shaft is able to be inserted into a first recess of the switch in order to perform a movement for opening/closing the contacts, the holding shaft then being housed in a first holding orifice. In a second direction of insertion, the main shaft is able to be inserted into a second recess of the switch in order to be able to perform a movement for grounding the contacts, the holding shaft then being housed in a second holding orifice. The control device also includes a detector of the direction of insertion, which detector is linked to the microcontroller.

Abstract: An aid method for piloting an aircraft including acquiring an instruction intended to alter the flight plan, determining an applicability period of the instruction made up of a plurality of applicability moments of the instruction in which the application of the instruction is compatible with the operational capabilities of the aircraft and with the constraints of the flight plan, for each applicability moment of the instruction, determining an altered flight plan in case of application of the instruction at this applicability moment and calculating values of the operational parameters associated with this flight plan, and selecting an optimal applicability moment based on values of the operational parameters associated with the altered flight plan and operational parameters associated with the current flight plan.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating and sharing information for an aircraft are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes identifying a situation from among a set of predetermined situations and obtaining, from a data structure recorded beforehand, a first set of information elements associated with the identified situation. The method also includes determining, from the first set of information elements, and from pieces of information recorded beforehand, a set of pieces of information unavailable in the first system and establishing at least one first request to be sent from the first system to at least one second system. The method further includes sending the at least one first request from the first system to the at least one second system.

Abstract: A portable control device designed to control contacts of an electrical switch, and including a main drive shaft, a holding shaft, a motor for driving the main shaft and a microcontroller for controlling the motor. In a first direction of insertion, the main shaft is able to be inserted into a first recess of the switch in order to perform a movement for opening/closing the contacts, the holding shaft then being housed in a first holding orifice. In a second direction of insertion, the main shaft is able to be inserted into a second recess of the switch in order to be able to perform a movement for grounding the contacts, the holding shaft then being housed in a second holding orifice. The control device also includes a detector of the direction of insertion, which detector is linked to the microcontroller.

Abstract: An aid method for piloting an aircraft including acquiring an instruction intended to alter the flight plan, determining an applicability period of the instruction made up of a plurality of applicability moments of the instruction in which the application of the instruction is compatible with the operational capabilities of the aircraft and with the constraints of the flight plan, for each applicability moment of the instruction, determining an altered flight plan in case of application of the instruction at this applicability moment and calculating values of the operational parameters associated with this flight plan, and selecting an optimal applicability moment based on values of the operational parameters associated with the altered flight plan and operational parameters associated with the current flight plan.

Abstract: A method and electronic device for control of messages exchanged between an aircraft and a ground station, and associated computer program product are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes acquiring a message, extracting descriptive data from the acquired message, and determining the identifier of the acquired message. If the identifier of the acquired message corresponds to a shared identifier of the messages of a dialog in progress, the method includes associating that acquired message with that dialog. If not, the method includes associating the acquired message with a new dialog. The method further includes determining the position of a symbol corresponding to the dialog associated with the acquired message, the position being determined based on the type and start date of this dialog, the symbol being configured to be displayed in a display zone of the symbols corresponding to the different dialogs.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating and sharing information for an aircraft are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes identifying a situation from among a set of predetermined situations and obtaining, from a data structure recorded beforehand, a first set of information elements associated with the identified situation. The method also includes determining, from the first set of information elements, and from pieces of information recorded beforehand, a set of pieces of information unavailable in the first system and establishing at least one first request to be sent from the first system to at least one second system. The method further includes sending the at least one first request from the first system to the at least one second system.

Abstract: A method and electronic device for control of messages exchanged between an aircraft and a ground station, and associated computer program product are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes acquiring a message, extracting descriptive data from the acquired message, and determining the identifier of the acquired message. If the identifier of the acquired message corresponds to a shared identifier of the messages of a dialogue in progress, the method includes associating that acquired message with that dialogue. If not, the method includes associating the acquired message with a new dialogue. The method further includes determining the position of a symbol corresponding to the dialogue associated with the acquired message, the position being determined based on the type and start date of this dialogue, the symbol being configured to be displayed in a display zone of the symbols corresponding to the different dialogues.

Abstract: A method for determining a result path of an aircraft, the result path including a set of successive positions of the aircraft between an initial global point and a final global point that are predetermined for a mission of the aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a plurality of calculating members, each able to guide the aircraft during at least part of the mission and to calculate an elementary path of the aircraft during that part, each elementary path including a set of successive positions of the aircraft between an initial elementary point and a final elementary point. The device includes calculating a portion of the result path from elementary paths coming from at least two distinct calculating members.

Abstract: A method for determining a result path of an aircraft, the result path including a set of successive positions of the aircraft between an initial global point and a final global point that are predetermined for a mission of the aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a plurality of calculating members, each able to guide the aircraft during at least part of the mission and to calculate an elementary path of the aircraft during that part, each elementary path including a set of successive positions of the aircraft between an initial elementary point and a final elementary point. The device includes calculating a portion of the result path from elementary paths coming from at least two distinct calculating members.