A rocket propulsion system comprising a first cryogenic tank and a second cryogenic tank, wherein the first cryogenic tank is filled with a first propellant, and the second cryogenic tank is filled with a second propellant, for purposes of feeding at least one repeatedly ignitable main propulsion unit in a propulsion phase of the rocket propulsion system. For purposes of tank pressurization via at least a low level of acceleration in a ballistic phase, a first auxiliary propulsion unit can be operated by means of a first gas pressure accumulator, and at least one further auxiliary propulsion unit can be operated by means of a further gas pressure accumulator, and the rocket propulsion system is assigned an energy conversion unit, which is designed at least to charge the first and the second gas pressure accumulator, preferably in the ballistic phase.

Various embodiments of a vortex thruster system is described herein that are configured to create at least three discrete thrust levels. In some embodiments, the vortex thruster system includes a catalyst bed configured to decompose a monopropellant at more than one flow rate and deliver the decomposed monopropellant into a vortex combustion chamber for generating various thrust levels. In some embodiments, the catalyst bed includes a screen assembly positioned within the inner chamber of the catalyst bed. The screen assembly can include alternating reactive screens and inert screens. The reactive screens can include a catalytic coating for assisting with decomposing the monopropellant, and the inert screens can provide structural support for the screen assembly. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

According to one contemplated embodiment of the rocket engine invention, water is first pumped from a water tank through a rocket nozzle cooling heat exchanger wherein it is evaporated into said superheated steam. A generator supplies electricity to an electrolyzer that electrolyzes superheated steam into gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen. The gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen is employed for forming an annular curtain of secondary combustion in a divergent rocket engine. The secondary combustion gas surrounds a central thrust of combustion gas produced in an upstream combustion chamber by a primary injection of hydrogen/oxygen supplied from a liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank. The rocket liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank are pressurized by gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen generated by the electrolyzer.

Carbide-based fuel assembly includes outer structural member of ceramic matrix composite material, the interior surface of which is lined in higher temperature regions with an insulation layer of porous refractory ceramic material. A continuous insulation layer extends the length of the fuel assembly or separate insulation layer sections have a thickness increasing step-wise along the length of the fuel assembly from upper (inlet) section towards bottom (outlet) section. Fuel element positioned inward of the insulation layer and between support meshes has a fuel composition including HALEU and the form of a plurality of individual elongated fuel bodies or one or more fuel monolith bodies containing coolant flow channels. Fuel assemblies are distributively arranged in a moderator block, with upper end of the outer structural member attached to an inlet for propellant and lower end of the outer structural member operatively interfaced with a nozzle forming a nuclear thermal propulsion reactor.

A method for managing propellant in a spacecraft is disclosed. The method includes storing liquid propellant in a tank under an operating pressure controlled using a product of chemical decomposition of the propellant. The method may include transferring the liquid propellant out of the tank and chemically decomposing a portion of it using, for example electrolysis. Thus generated one or more gas components may be introduced to the tank to control the operating pressure in the tank.

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 monopropellant rocket thruster includes a thruster, a pump, a decomposition catalyst, and an igniter. The thruster housing includes a reaction chamber and a divergent nozzle. The pump, coupled to the thruster housing, is operable to pump a monopropellant liquid into an inlet of the reaction chamber. The decomposition catalyst, located near the inlet between the pump and the reaction chamber, is configured to decompose at least one component of the monopropellant liquid into a mixture of liquid and gas in an exothermic reaction. The igniter is disposed at an outlet of the reaction chamber, such that the igniter ignites the mixture of liquid and gas for producing expanding gas into the divergent nozzle.

A cryogenic engine for a space apparatus is provided. The cryogenic engine includes an injector body, a thrust chamber, and a spark plug, where the injector body is provided therein with an accommodating space; the spark plug is provided on one side of the injector body, and an electrode provided on the spark plug extends into the accommodating space; the thrust chamber is provided on the other side of the injector body and is communicated with the accommodating space; the injector body is provided with a combustion improver flow channel and a combustible agent flow channel; and the combustion improver flow channel and combustible agent flow channel are connected with the accommodating space.

Mining apparatuses, systems and methods related to the use of a rocket engine’s plume and a collection manifold to efficiently displace, collect, process and store frozen volatiles embedded within or below a surface is disclosed. The plume contacts and churns up the surface. The frozen volatiles are displaced and/or evaporated within a closed environment under a collection manifold. The collection manifold has related components for addressing these frozen or gaseous volatiles downstream. Various apparatuses and subsystems are also disclosed including a rover, processing plants, collection manifold, and vapor manifold.

To use launchpad based laser beam generators to stream 50+ kilowatt laser beams up through clear fused quartz discs located in the base of the rocket to super heat the steam in the rocket's pressure chamber for the purpose of increasing the thrusting power of the rocket. This rocket does not use fossil fuel, but rather it uses 99% pure hydrogen peroxide fuel, (H2O2) which flashes into steam without the use of combustion.