A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.

A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.

Proposed is a hybrid rocket engine using an electric motor-driven oxidizer pump, the hybrid rocket engine including: an oxidizer tank configured to store the oxidizer; an oxidizer pump configured to pressurize the oxidizer by being connected to the oxidizer tank through a first oxidizer supply line; a drive unit including an electric motor configured to drive the oxidizer pump and a battery configured to supply power to the electric motor; an auxiliary oxidizer line configured to guide the oxidizer from the oxidizer tank to the electric motor to cool the electric motor; an oxidizer recirculation line configured to recharge oxidizer vapor, generated through heat exchange between the electric motor and the oxidizer, to the oxidizer tank, thereby pressurizing an inner side of the oxidizer tank; and a combustion chamber configured to combust the oxidizer and fuel by being connected to the oxidizer pump through a second oxidizer supply line.

A high density, generally recognized as safe, hybrid rocket motor is described, having a density-specific impulse similar to a solid rocket motor, with good performance approaching or equal to a liquid rocket motor. These high density hybrid motors resolve the packaging efficiency/effectiveness problems limiting the application of safe, low cost hybrid motor technology.

A high density, generally recognized as safe, hybrid rocket motor is described, having a density-specific impulse similar to a solid rocket motor, with good performance approaching or equal to a liquid rocket motor. These high density hybrid motors resolve the packaging efficiency/effectiveness problems limiting the application of safe, low cost hybrid motor technology.

Various embodiments of a vortex hybrid motor system are described herein. In some embodiments, the vortex hybrid motor system can include a control system, a vortex hybrid motor, and an oxidizer injector. The oxidizer injector can be in fluid communication with a combustion zone defined by a fuel core and/or housing of the vortex hybrid motor. In some embodiments, at least one material regression sensor can be positioned along the fuel core and sensed data from the material regression sensors can be provided to the control system for determining one or more characteristics associated with the fuel core. The control system can control, based on the analyzed sensed data, the oxidizer injector for modulating an oxidizer flow rate delivered to the combustion zone to achieve a desired oxidizer-to-fuel ratio.

Various embodiments of a vortex hybrid motor system are described herein. In some embodiments, the vortex hybrid motor system can include a control system, a vortex hybrid motor, and an oxidizer injector. The oxidizer injector can be in fluid communication with a combustion zone defined by a fuel core and/or housing of the vortex hybrid motor. In some embodiments, at least one material regression sensor can be positioned along the fuel core and sensed data from the material regression sensors can be provided to the control system for determining one or more characteristics associated with the fuel core. The control system can control, based on the analyzed sensed data, the oxidizer injector for modulating an oxidizer flow rate delivered to the combustion zone to achieve a desired oxidizer-to-fuel ratio.

Proposed is a hybrid rocket engine using an electric motor-driven oxidizer pump, the hybrid rocket engine including: an oxidizer tank configured to store the oxidizer; an oxidizer pump configured to pressurize the oxidizer by being connected to the oxidizer tank through a first oxidizer supply line; a drive unit including an electric motor configured to drive the oxidizer pump and a battery configured to supply power to the electric motor; an auxiliary oxidizer line configured to guide the oxidizer from the oxidizer tank to the electric motor to cool the electric motor; an oxidizer recirculation line configured to recharge oxidizer vapor, generated through heat exchange between the electric motor and the oxidizer, to the oxidizer tank, thereby pressurizing an inner side of the oxidizer tank; and a combustion chamber configured to combust the oxidizer and fuel by being connected to the oxidizer pump through a second oxidizer supply line.

Proposed is a hybrid rocket engine using an electric motor-driven oxidizer pump, the hybrid rocket engine including: an oxidizer tank configured to store the oxidizer; an oxidizer pump configured to pressurize the oxidizer by being connected to the oxidizer tank through a first oxidizer supply line; a drive unit including an electric motor configured to drive the oxidizer pump and a battery configured to supply power to the electric motor; an auxiliary oxidizer line configured to guide the oxidizer from the oxidizer tank to the electric motor to cool the electric motor; an oxidizer recirculation line configured to recharge oxidizer vapor, generated through heat exchange between the electric motor and the oxidizer, to the oxidizer tank, thereby pressurizing an inner side of the oxidizer tank; and a combustion chamber configured to combust the oxidizer and fuel by being connected to the oxidizer pump through a second oxidizer supply line.

In a method of facilitating flight operations, a payload is coupled to a spacecraft via a payload interface. The relative alignment of the payload and the spacecraft is dynamically adjusted (e.g., for thrust alignment) while the payload remains coupled to the spacecraft.