One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second.

One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second.

This disclosure describes various techniques and systems for rapid low-cost access to suborbital and orbital space and accommodation of acceleration of sensitive payloads to space. For example, a distributed gas injection system may be used in a ram accelerator to launch multiple payloads through the atmosphere. Additionally or alternatively, multiple projectiles may assemble during flight through the atmosphere to transfer and/or resources to another projectile.

A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.

A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.

A modular light gas accelerator includes a first stage having a chamber having a rear portion and a discharge portion and a barrel located inside the chamber. The barrel has a rear port at the rear portion of the chamber and a discharge port extending outwardly from the discharge portion of the chamber. A piston is slidingly located inside the barrel proximate to the rear port and is adapted to be propelled through the barrel and out of the discharge port. A second stage includes a receiver adapted to receive the piston from the discharge port. The receiver has a receiver passage. A frangible member extends across the receiver passage. A projectile is located downstream of the frangible member. The projectile is adapted to travel along the receiver passage. A target chamber is located at a downstream end of the receiver passage.

A modular light gas accelerator includes a first stage having a chamber having a rear portion and a discharge portion and a barrel located inside the chamber. The barrel has a rear port at the rear portion of the chamber and a discharge port extending outwardly from the discharge portion of the chamber. A piston is slidingly located inside the barrel proximate to the rear port and is adapted to be propelled through the barrel and out of the discharge port. A second stage includes a receiver adapted to receive the piston from the discharge port. The receiver has a receiver passage. A frangible member extends across the receiver passage. A projectile is located downstream of the frangible member. The projectile is adapted to travel along the receiver passage. A target chamber is located at a downstream end of the receiver passage.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

A firearm propulsion system for releasing a projectile from a firearm includes a firearm having a chamber, a barrel, and a firing pin with a primer. A supply port is passed through at least one of the barrel and the chamber so as to reach the interior. A control valve is in communication with the supply port and is configured to regulate the passage of pressurized gas into the at least one of the barrel and the chamber from the supply port. A sensor is included in the chamber and is configured to detect the location of the projectile passing through the chamber after firing the firearm. A control system communicates with the control valve and the sensor to selectively release pressurized gas into the chamber after firing.