Abstract: A flame holder is provided at a head end of a combustion chamber of a hybrid rocket motor. The flame holder includes a high-temperature casing defining a cavity, and a solid propellant within cavity around or near the injector. The propellant may be provided in an annulus within the casing, such that the flame plume from the burning propellant is substantially parallel to the flow of the oxidizer, or may be generally cylindrical within a cylindrical casing such that the flame plume of the burning propellant is substantially perpendicular to the oxidizer flow. The solid propellant is preferably ignited substantially simultaneously with the ignition of the hybrid motor. The burning of the solid propellant prevents the flame from combustion of the fluid oxidizer and solid fuel in the hybrid motor from drifting and thereby stabilizes the flame front.

Abstract: Thrust-chamber assembly has an expansion nozzle and a combustion-chamber wall, to which an ejector head is affixed. The part of the combustion-chamber wall adjacent to the injector head comprising a precombustion-chamber wall, in which the combustible materials delivered to the assembly first form a cooling film. There is a heat-conducting layer in at least one area of the outside of the precombustion-chamber wall and in addition, it has a covering of platinum or gold.

Abstract: A gaseous-fuel rocket engine in which an expanding oxidizer driven turbine or electric motor drives the an axial gaseous-fuel turbine compressor. The oxidizer is subsequently injected into a gaseous-fuel duct surrounding the axial gaseous-fuel compressor and defining a gaseous-fuel path having an inlet. The gaseous-fuel and oxygen mixture is ignited and the burned gases are expanded through a converging-diverging exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus including a structural jacket, a forward liner, and an aft liner, and an associated method of constructing the same are provided. The structural jacket defines a passage including a first end, a second end, and a neck. The neck is positioned between and separates the first and second ends of the passage. The forward liner is positioned within the first end of the passage and has a throat fitted within the neck of the passage. The aft liner is positioned within the second end of the passage and has an upstream potion abutting the throat of the forward liner. The forward and aft liners are brazed together, and are bonded to the passage of the structural jacket, to form a longitudinal combustion chamber so that combustion of the propellant is contained and directed through the combustion chamber from the forward liner to the aft liner.

Abstract: A rocket propulsion unit with an outer casing and an inner casing is described whereby the inner casing is arranged with space between the outer casing, and the inner casing forms a combustion chamber and has a contour adapted to the expulsion of propellants out of the combustion chamber with a constriction for forming a combustion chamber neck. The outer casing in contrast has a contour deviating from the contour of the inner casing.

Abstract: A wall structure (2) configured to be exposed to a thermal load. The wall structure having at least two layers including a first layer (5) and a second layer (6). The second layer (6) is located closer to a source of the thermal load than the first layer (5), and the layers (5, 6) are arranged so that heat is allowed to be conducted from the second layer (6) to the first layer (5). Each of the first and second layers (5, 6) are adapted to carry a significant portion of a structural load, and the second layer (6) exhibits a higher thermal conductivity and/or a lower thermal expansion than the first layer (5). The invention reduces the thermal strain in the wall structure (2).

Abstract: A process for collecting oxygen-enriched air during a phase of aerobic flight of a space launch for combustion inside at least one cryotechnic rocket engine is provided. The launch rocket comprises at least one turbofan. The turbofan comprises a high-pressure spool comprising a high pressure compressor, a combustion chamber, turbines, and a low-pressure spool surrounding the high-pressure spool. The spools comprise a blower for collecting the external fluid in the form of a main flow and a derived flow. The main flow follows compression, combustion and depressurization in the turbofan engine. The derived flow is separated into oxygen-enriched air and oxygen-depleted air. The oxygen-enriched air is stored for combustion in a rocket engine, while the oxygen-depleted air is ejected.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket motor includes a storage tank which stores an oxidizer under relatively low pressure, a turbopump preferably directly coupled to an outlet of the storage tank which pressurizes the oxidizer to a relatively high pressure, a combustion chamber including a solid fuel, and an injector between the turbopump and combustion chamber through which the oxidizer is injected into the combustion chamber. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the turbopump is operated by an expander cycle of a heat exchanger. According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger is oxidizer tapped from the storage tank. A barrier is maintained between an oxidizer feed line from the turbopump and the injector until sufficient pressure is created by the turbopump to pump the oxidizer at the requisite pressure into the injector.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for a rocket engine expels a hot stream of gas and has a cooling device. The inner wall of the combustion chamber adjoins the cooling device and contains depressions formed in such a way that the stable outer layer of the stream of gas that forms in the proximity of the inner wall of the combustion chamber during operation of the combustion chamber is destabilized in the area of the depressions.

Abstract: A method and system for inhibiting corrosion of aluminum and other metal-containing components and structures exposed to water is disclosed. In one embodiment, the silicate solution is used as a test fluid medium for structural testing of aluminum-alloy or other metal container structures including propellant tanks, in which a structure filled with the medium is then subjected to various structural load testing. In another embodiment, the silicate solution is used as a test medium for proof pressure hydrostatic or load testing of launch vehicle booster tanks. The silicate film protects the underlying base metal surface against corrosion during these tests. The film also protects the base metal surface in normal atmospheric conditions from exposure to humidity and other atmospheric moisture after removal of the test medium from the propellant tank following completion of testing.

Abstract: A rocket engine having a combustion chamber with a chamber inner wall, a throat with a throat inner wall, and a nozzle with a nozzle inner wall is provided. The chamber inner wall is a vacuum plasma sprayed metal, the throat inner wall is a vacuum plasma sprayed metal, and the nozzle inner wall is a vacuum plasma sprayed metal. The porosity of the vacuum plasma sprayed metal varies in an axial direction of the engine.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for integrating structural members inside the body of a propulsion vehicle with tankage used to store fluid propellant and the like. Propulsion vehicles may be made lighter, more compact, cheaper, and easier to manufacture by using pressurized membranes of the tankage to accomplish other structural purposes. More specifically, tanks may be integrated with thrust structures to transfer thrust loads from the engine to the main body of the vehicle. Alternatively, the tanks may be integrated with the vehicle engine. Also, one tank may be integrated with one or more other tanks to form a single pressure vessel with multiple interior chambers. Tankage may additionally be combined with more than one of the foregoing to save additional weight and space. Methods of manufacturing a metallic integrated tank assembly include weld fabrication, machining, spinning, hydroforming, casting, forging, plating, metal deposition, or some combination thereof.

Abstract: An ignition system for combustion chambers of rocket engines has a first fuel tank for a first fuel constituent and a second fuel tank for a second fuel constituent, both of which are separated from the fuel tanks of the rocket engine. Feed pipes (3, 4) for the respective fuel constituent are arranged between the igniter and a fuel tank.

Abstract: A turbojet engine with improved thrust and high-altitude capabilities. Arrangements are provided for injecting liquid oxygen or other oxidizer into the turbojet engine before the compressor section. Cooling the incoming air by the liquid oxygen reduces the air volume, which allows a fixed inlet to be matched to varying flow conditions, allowing a greater mass of air to be ingested by the compressor section and results in a lower compressor outlet temperature. Increased mass flow, combined with more fuel results in higher exhaust gas temperatures and greater thrust. The addition of oxygen to the inlet air flow allows the engine to operate at higher altitudes by preventing flameout due to rarefied air.

Abstract: An improved rocket engine combustion chamber including a first chamber having a first diameter and located intermediate to a propellant injector and a second chamber having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The combustion chamber extends radially outward from the first diameter to the second diameter suddenly at the intersection between the first and second chambers. Film cooling is provided by providing a stratified layer of low temperature fluid adjacent to the inner wall of the first chamber and surrounding a primary inner core of high temperature gases. The sudden stepped expansion at the interface between the first and second chambers provides secondary recirculation mixing of the propellants and facilitates complete combustion. In an additional aspect, the inner surface of the first chamber may be made of a material that has a high degree of thermal conductivity to minimize temperature gradients.

Abstract: A reduced toxicity fuel satellite propulsion system including a reduced toxicity propellant supply (10) for consumption in an axial class thruster (14) and an ACS class thruster (16). The system includes suitable valves and conduits (22) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to the ACS decomposing element (26) of an ACS thruster. The ACS decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot propulsive gases. In addition the system includes suitable valves and conduits (18) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to an axial decomposing element (24) of the axial thruster. The axial decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot gases. The system further includes suitable valves and conduits (20) for supplying a second propellant (12) to a combustion chamber (28) of the axial thruster, whereby the hot gases and the second propellant auto-ignite and begin the combustion process for producing thrust.

Abstract: Various joints within a duct assembly to allow relative movement between portions of a fluid system which are interconnected by this duct assembly are disclosed. This duct assembly is particularly suited for interconnecting a rocket fuel tank and rocket engine of a space travel vehicle. In any case, this duct assembly includes a pair of duct suctions, each of which includes a gimbal on an end thereof. The opposite ends of these two duct sections are disposed in a telescope-like arrangement with a slip joint therebetween to allow the duct sections to move at least generally axially relative to each other. This slip joint includes a pair of longitudinally spaced bushings, between which are disposed a plurality of annular seals. The bushings inhibit contain between the two duct sections by maintaining the same in spaced relation.

Abstract: A gauge for measuring heat flux, especially heat flux encountered in a high temperature environment, is provided. The gauge includes at least one thermocouple and an anisotropic pyrolytic graphite body that covers at least part of, and optionally encases the thermocouple. Heat flux is incident on the anisotropic pyrolytic graphite body by arranging the gauge so that the gauge surface on which convective and radiative fluxes are incident is perpendicular to the basal planes of the pyrolytic graphite. The conductivity of the pyrolytic graphite permits energy, transferred into the pyrolytic graphite body in the form of heat flux on the incident (or facing) surface, to be quickly distributed through the entire pyrolytic graphite body, resulting in small substantially instantaneous temperature gradients. Temperature changes to the body can thereby be measured by the thermocouple, and reduced to quantify the heat flux incident to the body.

Abstract: An ignitor for use with the MC-1 rocket engine has a cartridge bounded by two end caps with rupture disc assemblies connected thereto. A piston assembly within the cartridge moves from one end of the cartridge during the ignition process. The inlet of the ignitor communicates with a supply taken from the discharge of the fuel pump. When the pump is initially started, the pressure differential bursts the first rupture disc to begin the movement of the piston assembly toward the discharge end. The pressurization of the cartridge causes the second rupture disc to rupture and hypergolic fluid contained within the cartridge is discharged out the outlet.

Abstract: A rocket propulsion unit with an outer casing and an inner casing is described whereby the inner casing is arranged with space between the outer casing, and the inner casing forms a combustion chamber and has a contour adapted to the expulsion of propellants out of the combustion chamber with a constriction for forming a combustion chamber neck. The outer casing in contrast has a contour deviating from the contour of the inner casing.

Abstract: Various joints within a duct assembly to allow relative movement between portions of a fluid system which are interconnected by this duct assembly are disclosed. This duct assembly is particularly suited for interconnecting a rocket fuel tank and rocket engine of a space travel vehicle. In any case, this duct assembly includes a pair of duct suctions, each of which includes a gimbal on an end thereof. The opposite ends of these two duct sections are disposed in a telescope-like arrangement with a slip joint therebetween to allow the duct sections to move at least generally axially relative to each other. This slip joint includes a pair of longitudinally spaced bushings, between which are disposed a plurality of annular seals. The bushings inhibit contain between the two duct sections by maintaining the same in spaced relation.

Abstract: A liquid propellant supply system (10) according to the invention is electrical in nature and avoids the need for a gas generator and a turbine assembly. In particular, the system (10) includes an electrical power source (12), a controller (14) and a motor (18) for driving the pump (20). The electrical power source (12) provides electrical power sufficient for high power, limited duration applications such as for launch vehicle applications. For launch vehicle applications, the power source (12) is preferably capable of providing very high power for at least 60 seconds. A number of different types of electrical power sources may be employed in this regard. For example, the power source (12) may include high energy density batteries, supercapacitors, or counter rotating flywheels. Multiple counter rotating motors may be employed in order to minimize precessional forces.

Abstract: Various joints within a duct assembly to allow relative movement between portions of a fluid system which are interconnected by this duct assembly are disclosed. This duct assembly is particularly suited for interconnecting a rocket fuel tank and rocket engine of a space travel vehicle. In any case, this duct assembly includes a pair of duct suctions, each of which includes a gimbal on an end thereof. The opposite ends of these two duct sections are disposed in a telescope-like arrangement with a slip joint therebetween to allow the duct sections to move at least generally axially relative to each other. This slip joint includes a pair of longitudinally spaced bushings, between which are disposed a plurality of annular seals. The bushings inhibit contain between the two duct sections by maintaining the same in spaced relation.

Abstract: The casing comprises a combustion chamber and a nozzle, consisting of a subsonic and a supersonic sections with an external structural envelope and a fire wall having a ribbed external surface. The regenerative cooling passage is formed between the envelope and the fire wall. The fire wall is made from copper or a copper alloy, and the external structural envelope is made from steel or a nickel alloy. The fire wall has a metal coating stratified in the region of the nozzle throat over a length of not less than 0.3 diameter of the nozzle throat in the longitudinal direction. The first layer of the coating is nickel 50 &mgr;m to 1000 &mgr;m thick, and the second layer is chromium 10 &mgr;m to 500 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for a rocket engine expels a hot stream of gas and has a cooling device. The inner wall of the combustion chamber adjoins the cooling device and contains depressions formed in such a way that the stable outer layer of the stream of gas that forms in the proximity of the inner wall of the combustion chamber during operation of the combustion chamber is destabilized in the area of the depressions.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the field of rocketry and more precisely to liquid-propellant rocket engines and to rocket power units. This invention essentially relates to a method for increasing the specific impulse in a liquid-propellant rocket engine by using oxygen as well as a hydrocarbon fuel consisting of dicyclobutyl (C8H14). The dicyclobutyl provides for a substantial increase in the specific impulse of the liquid-propellant rocket engine when compared with kerosene. This invention also relates to a power unit for a rocket that has tanks for liquid oxygen and for the hydrocarbon fuel. Since the fuel tank is filled with dicyclobutyl (C8H14), it is thus possible to increase the thrust, the specific impulse, as well as the in-flight operation duration of the engine, and to reduce the weight of the tanks without any substantial change in the circuits of the liquid-propellant rocket engine and of the rocket power unit.

Abstract: This propulsion system of a rocket motor assembly includes an array of attitude-control rocket engines, one or more oxidizer-fluid sources, one or more ignition-fluid sources, and, optionally, one or more primary rocket engines. Each of the attitude-control rocket engines has a respective combustion chamber and is offset from the longitudinal axis of the rocket motor assembly so that when a selected one or group of the attitude-control rocket engines is fired, the flight path of the assembly is diverted and/or the rocket assembly spins. The oxidizer-fluid and ignition-fluid sources are in operative communication with the attitude-control rocket engines to respectively permit oxidizer fluid and ignition fluid to be supplied to selected ones or groups of the attitude-control rocket engines. Optionally, a portion of the ignition fluid from the ignition-fluid source can be cooled and used to pressurize the oxidizer-fluid source.

Abstract: A rocket engine has a combustion chamber and an expansion chamber interconnected by a nozzle. Both chambers and the nozzle are made of carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide formed as a monolithic rocket engine body or formed in sections bonded to each other to also form such a monolithic rocket engine body. The rocket engine body is mounted in a support structure, preferably made of a metal. The rocket engine body sections are produced by mechanical machining of respective blanks made of C/SiC materials. Cooling channels and/or heat insulation structures are used for heat control. The insulation structures are preferably also made of C/SiC materials or of carbon fiber felts or of graphite film.

Abstract: The casing comprises a combustion chamber and a nozzle, consisting of a subsonic and a supersonic sections with an external structural envelope and a fire wall having a ribbed external surface. The regenerative cooling passage is formed between the envelope and the fire wall. The fire wall is made from copper or a copper alloy, and the external structural envelope is made from steel or a nickel alloy. The fire wall has a metal coating stratified in the region of the nozzle throat over a length of not less than 0.3 diameter of the nozzle throat in the longitudinal direction. The first layer of the coating is nickel 50 &mgr;m to 1000 &mgr;m thick, and the second layer is chromium 10 &mgr;m to 500 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) microthruster array is disclosed. The MEMS microthruster array of the present invention can be used for maintaining inter satellite distance in small satellites. One microthruster array includes numerous microthruster propulsion cells, each having a vacuum enclosed explosive igniter disposed on one side by a breakable diaphragm and having a propellant-filled chamber on the opposite side of the diaphragm. Upon explosion of the explosive igniter, the first diaphragm breaks, which, together with the explosion of the explosive igniter, causes the propellant to expand rapidly, thereby providing exhaust gases which are ejected from an exterior face of the microthruster propulsion array, thereby providing a small unit of thrust.

Abstract: A throttleable rocket injector assembly is disclosed wherein the flow of oxidizer into each of the oxidizer injectors is simultaneously regulated by a mechanical assembly mounted entirely within the oxidizer chamber.

Abstract: A rocket engine has a combustion chamber, an injector, and an attachment between the combustion chamber and the injector. The attachment includes an annular metallic deposit joined to the chamber wall outer surface, and an annular transition ring structure. The transition ring structure has an annular step collar, and an annular adaptor ring brazed to the annular step collar. The adaptor ring is welded on one end to the injector and on the other end to the metallic deposit.

Abstract: A thrust chamber assembly for liquid fueled rocket engines and the method of making it wherein a two-piece mandrel wrapped with a silica tape saturated with a phenolic resin, the tape extending along the mandrel and covering the combustion chamber portion of the mandrel to the throat portion. The phenolic in the tape is cured and the end of the wrap is machined. The remainder of the mandrel is wrapped with a third silica tape. The resin in the third tape is cured and the assembly is machined. The entire assembly is then wrapped with a tow of graphite fibers wetted with an epoxy resin and, after the epoxy resin is cured, the graphite is machined to final dimensions.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of automatic equipment and, in particular, to devices for chemical ignition of liquid rocket engine propellant components. The ampoule comprises a body, diaphragm units mounted at the body inlet and outlet, each of which is made as a piston made as a single part with a diaphragm. The peripheral part of the diaphragm is fixed in an air-tight manner to the body under a guide element in which the body is mounted. The piston has a stem extending into a guide bush. Furthermore, a device for filling the ampoule with fuel is located in a partition of the body inside the ampoule. A guaranteed cutting of the diaphragm along the entire perimeter and reproduction of hydraulic characteristics for the flow part of the ampoule are achieved in this ampoule design.

Abstract: A coating with the ability to protect (1) the inside wall (i.e., lining) of a rocket engine combustion chamber and (2) parts of other apparatuses that utilize or are exposed to combustive or high-temperature environments. The novelty of this invention lies in the manner a protective coating is embedded into the lining.

Abstract: The ignition system includes an optical source capable of producing light having physical characteristics sufficient for optically driven chemical disassociation of a hydrogen peroxide oxidizer; and, an optical delivery system for providing optical delivery of light from the optical source to a combustion chamber. The ignition system is used for a propulsion producing engine having a combustion chamber for the introduction of a fuel and a hydrogen peroxide oxidizer. The initiation of combustion is produced by the non-linear, optical interaction of the produced light with a fuel and the oxidizer present in the combustion chamber, thereby leading to molecular disassociation of the oxidizer such that there is initiation of combustion.

Abstract: A reduced toxicity fuel satellite propulsion system including a reduced toxicity propellant supply (10) for consumption in an axial class thruster (14) and an ACS class thruster (16). The system includes suitable valves and conduits (22) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to the ACS decomposing element (26) of an ACS thruster. The ACS decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot propulsive gases. In addition the system includes suitable valves and conduits (18) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to an axial decomposing element (24) of the axial thruster. The axial decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot gases. The system firther includes suitable valves and conduits (20) for supplying a second propellant (12) to a combustion chamber (28) of the axial thruster, whereby the hot gases and the second propellant auto-ignite and begin the combustion process for producing thrust.

Abstract: Plugs for protecting internal spaces of rocket combustion chambers against moisture, dust, and other environmental factors. Each plug includes a central rod with a bracket fastened to it. The plug also includes a sleeve with radially extending structural ribs. Spring-loaded cams with rollers are securely hinged at the ends of the ribs. In addition, a spring-loaded limiter and a valve are mounted on the central rod so that they can possibly move relative to the central rod. The limiter includes a sleeve and a conical shell that are connected by rod ties. The valve includes a metal stamped conical plate that forms a gas-tight fit with the rod. A sealing ring of elastic material is positioned on a peripheral part of the plate. The set of spring-loaded cams and the limiter secure the self-mounting plug in a working position and make the valve operation independent of the operation of other plug components.

Abstract: A device comprises a bellows with protective rings arranged between corrugations of the bellows. Support rings are connected in a sealed manner to a gas line and a combustion chamber. A gimbal ring is positioned outside the bellows and via hinges is connected to structural brackets with support rings. A shield is mounted inside the bellows, the shield consisting of two cylindrical envelopes telescopically inserted one in another with a gap. The cylindrical envelopes are fixed in cantilever to support rings, forming a chamber which via channels for feeding a cooling working medium made in the support rings is connected to a main line for feeding the cooling working medium, and via the gap between the envelopes—to the cavity of the bellows unit. A housing is arranged outside the protective rings and adjoining them, and is made in the form of a metallic cylindrical helix, the ends of which are connected to the support rings (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A thrust chamber assembly for liquid fueled rocket engines and the method of making it wherein a two-piece mandrel having the configuration of an assembly having a combustion chamber portion connected to a nozzle portion through a throat portion is wrapped with a silica tape saturated with a phenolic resin, the tape extending along the mandrel and covering the combustion chamber portion of the mandrel to the throat portion. The width of the tape is positioned at an angle of 30 to 50° to the axis of the mandrel such that one edge of the tape contacts the mandrel while the other edge is spaced from the mandrel. The phenolic in the tape is cured and the end of the wrap is machined to provide a frustoconical surface extending at an angle of 15 to 30° with respect to the axis of the mandrel for starting a second wrap on the mandrel to cover the throat portion.

Abstract: The liquid-propellant rocket engine comprises two combustion chambers, a gas generator, a turbopump assembly, pipelines as well as a frame having footpads and supports located in different planes that are perpendicular to the engine axis, said frame being made up of at least two welded rod sections. Said sections are fastened to each other by a plane rod joint. The engine pipelines are connected to the combustion chambers and comprise bellows balances or flexible hoses which have their movable ends connected directly to the combustion chambers or to pipes joined thereto. The frame is made demountable due to the use of threaded connections that joint together the frame sections and the plane rod joint. The frame is made as a compensation frame by placing the footpad plane over the support plane. A curved pipe joint comprises a curved pipe, a hinge and a frame.

Abstract: In order to provide a combustion chamber, in particular for a rocket engine, comprising a combustion area, an inner shell surrounding the combustion area, an outer shell surrounding the inner shell and coolant passages formed between the inner shell and the outer shell, the casing of which has an improved thermal stability and an increased mechanical bearing strength, it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the outer shell be formed from a fibrous ceramic material and the inner shell be formed from a fibrous ceramic material or from graphite.

Abstract: A liquid fuel rocket engine wherein the thrust producing exhaust of the engine is directed out of the engine in an annular fashion providing increased thrust and 360 degree thrust vectoring, while presenting the ability to be adaptable to different fuel/oxidizer mixtures, and prevent the sinusoidal shock wave formation typically associated with bell nozzle type rocket engines.

Abstract: A rocket engine is prepared by fabricating a combustion chamber having an annular wall as a single piece of material. The wall has a first axial region with a first inner diameter, a second axial region with a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter, and an inner wall step transition between the first axial region and the second axial region. The combustion chamber is attached to an injector by bonding an annular metallic deposit to the first axial region of the combustion chamber, providing an annular adaptor ring, first welding the adaptor ring to the metallic deposit, and second welding the adaptor ring to the injector.

Abstract: A rocket propulsion system for spacecraft achieves greater economy, reliability and efficiency rocket by incorporating monopropellant RCS thrusters (1a-1f) for attitude control and bipropellant SCAT thrusters (5a-5c) for velocity control. Both sets of thrusters are designed to use the same liquid fuel, supplied by a pressurized non-pressure regulated tank, and operate in the blow down mode. In the propulsion system such station keeping and attitude control thrusters may function in conjunction with a large thrust apogee kick engine, which may also be of the SCAT thruster construction, that uses the same propellent fuel. Hydrazine and Binitrogen tetroxide are preferred as the fuel and oxidizer, respectively. The new system offers a simple conversion of existing monopropellant systems to a high performance bipropellant dual mode system without the extreme complexity and cost attendant to a binitrogen tetroxide--hydrazine bipropellant system.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket system and motor includes an oxidant tank communicating with a combustion chamber containing a solid fuel grain. The passage from the oxidant tank to the combustion chamber is obstructed by a fill tube which fills the oxidant tank with oxidant and pressurizes it. Once the tank is full, the fill tube is displaced from the tank-chamber passage to deliver oxidant to the grain and initiate the combustion process. The motor may be an integral part of the rocket, or it may be a modular, expendable or exchangeable cartridge-type device inserted into a reusable body.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket system and motor includes an oxidant tank communicating with a combustion chamber containing a solid fuel grain. The passage from the oxidant tank to the combustion chamber is obstructed by a fill tube which fills the oxidant tank with oxidant and pressurizes it. Once the tank is full, the fill tube is displaced from the tank-chamber passage to deliver oxidant to the grain and initiate the combustion process. The motor may be an integral part of the rocket, or it may be a modular, expendable or exchangeable cartridge-type device inserted into a reusable body.

Abstract: In order to improve a method of injecting a first and a second fuel component into a combustion chamber, particularly of a rocket engine, wherein an injection element guides the first fuel component in an inner cylindrical stream and the injection element guides the second fuel component in an annular stream surrounding the inner cylindrical stream, so that by comparison with known methods improved mixing and more homogeneous preparation of the fuel takes place on injection into the combustion chamber, it is proposed that in the injection element the first and/or the second fuel component is guided by an element which produces a pressure drop and is disposed and constructed in such a way that the energy released during the pressure drop is at least partially converted into turbulence energy of the stream of the first and/or the second fuel component in order to achieve a good intermixing of the two fuel components in the mixing zone.

Abstract: The disclosed launch systems are formed from mass producible elements that integrate propulsion, pneumatics and structural systems. In one embodiment, a launch system (10) includes multiple stages (12-16) where each stage includes a number of generally wedge-shaped segments (54). Alternating segments (54) form liquid fuel and oxidizer tanks. Each fuel and oxidizer tank pair is associated with a thruster (70). The resulting plurality of thrusters (70) are disposed about a common aerospike thrust structure (30-34). The segments (54) are connected to an internal, hollow structural spine (26) that can also interface with an internal umbilical tower (46). The segments (54) together with their associated thrusters and related components can be mass produced, thereby increasing competition among suppliers, reducing design costs and timeframes.