A solid propellant auxiliary booster intended to be attached to the main body of a launcher comprises a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear face in communication with a nozzle and a front face formed by a conical structure connected to the cylindrical body of the booster. The cylindrical body delimits a first internal volume and the conical structure of the front face delimits a second internal volume. The auxiliary booster contains a solid propellant charge. The first internal volume of the cylindrical body communicates with the second internal volume of the conical structure. The solid propellant charge is present both in the first and second internal volumes.

A solid propellant auxiliary booster intended to be attached to the main body of a launcher comprises a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear face in communication with a nozzle and a front face formed by a conical structure connected to the cylindrical body of the booster. The cylindrical body delimits a first internal volume and the conical structure of the front face delimits a second internal volume. The auxiliary booster contains a solid propellant charge. The first internal volume of the cylindrical body communicates with the second internal volume of the conical structure. The solid propellant charge is present both in the first and second internal volumes.

A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft coupled to a first turbine and a first compressor, a second shaft coupled to a second turbine and a second compressor, and a third shaft coupled to a third turbine and a fan assembly. The turbine engine includes a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to reject heat from a closed loop system with air passed from the fan assembly, and a combustor positioned to receive compressed air from the second compressor as a core stream. The closed-loop system includes the first, second, and third turbines and the first compressor and receives energy input from the combustor.

A gas turbine engine includes a first shaft coupled to a first turbine and a first compressor, a second shaft coupled to a second turbine and a second compressor, and a third shaft coupled to a third turbine and a fan assembly. The turbine engine includes a heat rejection heat exchanger configured to reject heat from a closed loop system with air passed from the fan assembly, and a combustor positioned to receive compressed air from the second compressor as a core stream. The closed-loop system includes the first, second, and third turbines and the first compressor and receives energy input from the combustor.

A variable block shaft has a radially enlarged disc formed at a first end. A shaft portion extends from the disc to a second end. An inner bearing race surface is defined intermediate the first and second end and has an outer peripheral surface. An axial length of the inner bearing race surface is defined between inner facing surfaces of lands at each axial side. The axial distance is measured along the center axis of the body and an outer diameter to the inner bearing race surface being defined as a first distance. The axial length of the inner bearing race surface is defined as a second distance and a ratio of the first distance to the second distance being between 3.75 and 3.90. An integrated drive generator and a method are also disclosed.

A variable block shaft has a radially enlarged disc formed at a first end. A shaft portion extends from the disc to a second end. An inner bearing race surface is defined intermediate the first and second end and has an outer peripheral surface. An axial length of the inner bearing race surface is defined between inner facing surfaces of lands at each axial side. The axial distance is measured along the center axis of the body and an outer diameter to the inner bearing race surface being defined as a first distance. The axial length of the inner bearing race surface is defined as a second distance and a ratio of the first distance to the second distance being between 3.75 and 3.90. An integrated drive generator and a method are also disclosed.

A method of replacing a module in a modular gas turbine engine having a first fan module; a first propulsor module including an engine core and a gearbox; and a first fan case module having a fan case; includes the steps of: disassembling the gas turbine engine, replacing one of the fan module, propulsor module or fan case module with a replacement fan module, a replacement propulsor module or a replacement fan case module, the replacement module, having the same configuration as the first module; and reassembling the gas turbine engine using the replacement module.

An optical heat exchanger and an associated system and method are provided to allow a vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle, a rocket or the like, to deliver more payload at a lower cost. The optical heat exchanger includes a support surface defining a plurality of tapered openings. Each tapered opening tapers from the first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second smaller size proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening. The inwardly facing end of each tapered opening is in communication with the propellant. The optical heat exchanger also includes a plurality of lenses with each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective opening. Each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and concentrate the majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, thereby heating the propellant.

An optical heat exchanger and an associated system and method are provided to allow a vehicle, such as an unmanned air vehicle, a rocket or the like, to deliver more payload at a lower cost. The optical heat exchanger includes a support surface defining a plurality of tapered openings. Each tapered opening tapers from the first size proximate an outwardly facing end of the opening to a second smaller size proximate an inwardly facing end of the opening. The inwardly facing end of each tapered opening is in communication with the propellant. The optical heat exchanger also includes a plurality of lenses with each lens positioned proximate the outwardly facing end of a respective opening. Each lens is configured to receive an electromagnetic energy beam and concentrate the majority of the electromagnetic energy beam through the inwardly facing end of the respective tapered opening, thereby heating the propellant.

An apparatus configured with two subsystems comprising a torus tube, linear flow, and turboplant assemblies that form of cavity for externally supplied and rotating subsonic working fluid. The working fluid rotation is provided by turboplant assemblies with throttle control. The rotating working fluid inside the cavities will conserve angular momentum. As a result of the conservation of angular momentum, poinsot flow fields are seen within the working fluid. A stable, resultant force is generated from the pressure and area forces inside the cavity. The apparatus usage is either with manual operation or as an unmanned, autonomous vehicle.