Omnivorous solar thermal thrusters and adjustable cooling structures are disclosed. In one aspect, a solar thermal rocket engine includes a solar thermal thruster configured to receive solar energy and one or more propellants, and heat the one or more propellants using the solar energy to generate thrust. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use a plurality of different propellant types, either singly or in combination simultaneously. The solar thermal thruster is further configured to use the one or more propellants in both liquid and gaseous states. Related structures can include valves and variable-geometry cooling channels in thermal contact with a thruster wall.

An optical mining apparatus comprising: a light weight solar reflector; optics for controlling the delivery of concentrated sun light onto the surface of a target; and a temperature controlled gas enclosure that contains the target; wherein said solar reflector is oriented to reflect sun light onto said optics.

The sequential impulse thruster is a system intended to provide permanent thrust to any vehicle to which it can be applied. The thrust by the system is the result of the repulsion of a perforated disc with several holes subsequent to the expulsion of compressed air or gas through the holes of the perforated disc. The compressed air or gas is expelled in sequential impulses within a hermetic frame. In order to achieve the thrust, the system is based on the organization of a set of components: a flanged and threaded axis of rotation, two types of propellers, one to realise sequences of expulsions and the other as a potential for the flowback, a perforated disc with several holes, and finally, a tube which allows separation between the expulsion of air or compressed gas and its flowback towards its pressure source.

The present invention provides a system of using compressed air as force source, comprising: compressed air jet engines, which use high/ultra-high pressure compressed air as a jet working medium, a compressed air production/supply device to economically, environmentally and quantitatively produce, store and supply the high/ultra-high pressure compressed air, and a controller. The compressed air jet engines are equipped on an airplane, rocket, submarine, train, or other moving carrier for aviation, aerospace, navigation and/or ground travel, comprising an air tank and air engines for generating power. The air engines comprise a main air engine for generating thrust, and a plurality of auxiliary air engines for reducing the air (or seawater) resistance and the sliding friction with air (or seawater) during the carrier movement to facilitate the speed-rising and energy-saving, and for improving the lift force of airplane wings to facilitate airplane short-range or vertical take-off/landing, etc.

An apparatus comprised of positionally directable masses attached to a binding component that includes a coupling device for payload to reduce gravitational deviation of the apparatus' trajectory by alternatingly accelerating and retracting physically bound component masses in equal and opposite directions to the extents of their bindings, initially and optimally perpendicular to the gravitational field and perpendicular to the apparatus trajectory by using in built transduction componentry located within the masses or the binding componentry or both that utilises electromagnetic forces, forces generated by chemical reactions, or other applied or responsive motive force to positionally direct the bound directable masses.

A transportation network for providing propellant in space can include optical mining vehicles that concentrate solar energy to spall captured asteroids, capture released volatiles, and store them in reservoirs as propellants. The network can also have orbital transfer vehicles that use solar thermal rocket modules that focus solar energy on heat exchangers to force propellant through nozzles, as well as separable aeromaneuvering tanker modules with reusable heatshields and storage tanks. The network can have propellant depots positioned between Earth and a transport destination. The depots can mechanically couple to accept propellant delivery and to supply it to visiting space vehicles.

A rotation-stabilized beamed-energy receiver, and associated systems and methods, including an aircraft carrying a rotating electromagnetic energy receiver that, when rotated, is supported by centripetal force in a selected shape and/or orientation. Accordingly, the receiver can be made from very thin and/or otherwise lightweight/flexible materials, while performing an energy-receiving function.

A rotation-stabilized beamed-energy receiver, and associated systems and methods, including an aircraft carrying a rotating electromagnetic energy receiver that, when rotated, is supported by centripetal force in a selected shape and/or orientation. Accordingly, the receiver can be made from very thin and/or otherwise lightweight/flexible materials, while performing an energy-receiving function.

An electrically controlled interfacial force generation device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a cell disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The cell includes a material that produces a mass in response to a bias voltage being applied across the first electrode and the second electrode. The device also includes a first wall at one end of the cell and extending between the first electrode and the second electrode. The device further includes an electrical power supply configured to provide a variable gradient voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. A variable electric field gradient is produced and altered within the cell in response to the variable gradient voltage being altered. Altering the variable electric field gradient causes the mass to propagate across the cell and to impact the first wall transferring a force to the first wall.

A rotary propulsion engine system designed to propel a craft. Such a rotary propulsion engine system comprises a power supply, a counterrotating disc assembly including two axially and rotatably connected discs, a drive mechanism to rotate the two counterrotating discs, an axle assembly, at least two reaction masses or armatures, at least two reaction mass driver assemblies, and at least two travel pathways for the reaction masses. Reaction masses are fired into a rotational environment wherein the kinetic energy of the reaction masses is recycled, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for chemical propellant-based propulsion systems, and transporting heavy, finite, and expensive fuels for combustion.