An aerospike engine configured to be connected to a liquid methane tank, and to a liquid oxygen tank is provided. The aerospike engine comprises a centerbody including an aerospike nozzle, an external skirt, and a combustion chamber being defined between the external skirt and the centerbody. The centerbody is additively manufactured from one or more copper alloys and has a plurality of centerbody internal cooling channels. The external skirt is additively manufactured from one or more copper alloys and has a plurality of skirt internal cooling channels. The aerospike engine is configured to supply liquid methane and liquid oxygen through the internal cooling channels to the combustion chamber. Also disclosed are stages of a launch vehicle and a launch vehicle comprising such an aerospike engine, as well as methods for re-entry for a re-usable stage of a launch vehicle comprising an aerospike engine.

A Duplex Turbine Guide Vane (DTGV) assembly for a turbojet engine includes DTGVs arranged on a non-rotating guide vane ring configured to be positioned coaxially in apposition with a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades. Each of the DTGVs has an internal channel configured for receiving a gas and delivering the gas toward the turbine blades.

A Duplex Turbine Guide Vane (DTGV) assembly for a turbojet engine includes DTGVs arranged on a non-rotating guide vane ring configured to be positioned coaxially in apposition with a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades. Each of the DTGVs has an internal channel configured for receiving a gas and delivering the gas toward the turbine blades.

A rocket engine is provided with a propellant valve controlling the output of a propellant tank. The valve is configured to induce a vortex in the propellant as it passes the propellant valve. Plural rocket engines may be supplied by a single valve, the valve inducing a vortex in the propellant which is then supplied to plural propellant lines configured to enhance the vortex induced by the valve.

A rocket engine is provided with a propellant valve controlling the output of a propellant tank. The valve is configured to induce a vortex in the propellant as it passes the propellant valve. Plural rocket engines may be supplied by a single valve, the valve inducing a vortex in the propellant which is then supplied to plural propellant lines configured to enhance the vortex induced by the valve.

A rocket engine is provided with a propellant valve controlling the output of a propellant tank. The valve is configured to induce a vortex in the propellant as it passes the propellant valve. Plural rocket engines may be supplied by a single valve, the valve inducing a vortex in the propellant which is then supplied to plural propellant lines configured to enhance the vortex induced by the valve.

A Duplex Turbine Guide Vane (DTGV) assembly for a turbojet engine includes DTGVs arranged on a non-rotating guide vane ring configured to be positioned coaxially in apposition with a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades. Each of the DTGVs has an internal channel configured for receiving a gas and delivering the gas toward the turbine blades.

A Duplex Turbine Guide Vane (DTGV) assembly for a turbojet engine includes DTGVs arranged on a non-rotating guide vane ring configured to be positioned coaxially in apposition with a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades. Each of the DTGVs has an internal channel configured for receiving a gas and delivering the gas toward the turbine blades.

A space vehicle engine (10) comprising a chemical thruster having a nozzle (30) for ejecting combustion gas, together with a Hall effect thruster. The engine is arranged in such a manner that the nozzle serves as the ejection channel for particles ejected by the Hall effect thruster when it is in operation. The engine can deliver high thrust with low specific impulse or relatively low thrust with large specific impulse.

A space vehicle engine (10) comprising a chemical thruster having a nozzle (30) for ejecting combustion gas, together with a Hall effect thruster. The engine is arranged in such a manner that the nozzle serves as the ejection channel for particles ejected by the Hall effect thruster when it is in operation. The engine can deliver high thrust with low specific impulse or relatively low thrust with large specific impulse.