Systems and methods for determining bi-propellant volume and adjusting a mixture ratio are discussed herein. A controller can calculate an adjusted mixture ratio and command the rocket engine to implement the adjusted mixture ratio by opening or closing valves of the propellant tanks, which changes the volumetric flow rates of each of the propellants. The adjusted mixture ratio can be calculated by an algorithm based on sensed or calculated data associated with each propellant. The adjusted mixture ratio can be used to evenly deplete the propellants to reduce the amount of each propellant remaining after a mission and to improve propellant use, which allows for an increase in a non-propellant payload.

Systems and methods for determining bi-propellant volume and adjusting a mixture ratio are discussed herein. A controller can calculate an adjusted mixture ratio and command the rocket engine to implement the adjusted mixture ratio by opening or closing valves of the propellant tanks, which changes the volumetric flow rates of each of the propellants. The adjusted mixture ratio can be calculated by an algorithm based on sensed or calculated data associated with each propellant. The adjusted mixture ratio can be used to evenly deplete the propellants to reduce the amount of each propellant remaining after a mission and to improve propellant use, which allows for an increase in a non-propellant payload.

A control system for controlling the operation of a plurality of micro thrusters arranged in a plurality of parallel horizontal rows and a plurality of parallel vertical columns, the control system requires a power source, a first plurality of power lines connected to the power source and coupled to at least one micro thruster of the plurality of micro thrusters in a horizontal row of the plurality of parallel horizontal rows, a second plurality of power lines connected to the power source and coupled to at least one micro thruster of the plurality of micro thrusters in a vertical column of the plurality of parallel vertical columns, and a control unit coupled to the power source to control activation of the first plurality of power lines and activation of the second plurality of power lines.

A control system for controlling the operation of a plurality of micro thrusters arranged in a plurality of parallel horizontal rows and a plurality of parallel vertical columns, the control system requires a power source, a first plurality of power lines connected to the power source and coupled to at least one micro thruster of the plurality of micro thrusters in a horizontal row of the plurality of parallel horizontal rows, a second plurality of power lines connected to the power source and coupled to at least one micro thruster of the plurality of micro thrusters in a vertical column of the plurality of parallel vertical columns, and a control unit coupled to the power source to control activation of the first plurality of power lines and activation of the second plurality of power lines.

A liquid rocket engine integrates tap-off openings at a combustion chamber wall to direct exhaust from the combustion chamber to a tap-off manifold that provides the exhaust to one or more auxiliary systems, such as a turbopump that pumps oxygen and/or fuel into the combustion chamber. The tap-off opening passes through a fuel channel formed in that combustion chamber exterior wall and receives fuel through a fuel opening that interfaces the fuel channel and tap-off opening. The tap-off manifold nests within a fuel manifold for thermal management. The fuel channel directs fuel into the combustion chamber through fuel port openings formed in the combustion chamber, the fuel port openings located closer to a headend of the combustion chamber than the tap-off openings.

A liquid rocket engine integrates tap-off openings at a combustion chamber wall to direct exhaust from the combustion chamber to a tap-off manifold that provides the exhaust to one or more auxiliary systems, such as a turbopump that pumps oxygen and/or fuel into the combustion chamber. The tap-off opening passes through a fuel channel formed in that combustion chamber exterior wall and receives fuel through a fuel opening that interfaces the fuel channel and tap-off opening. The tap-off manifold nests within a fuel manifold for thermal management. The fuel channel directs fuel into the combustion chamber through fuel port openings formed in the combustion chamber, the fuel port openings located closer to a headend of the combustion chamber than the tap-off openings.

A rocket engine having a co-axial, bidirectional flow arrangement is described herein. The rocket engine receives fuel and an oxidizer into the rocket engine in a first direction, whereby a portion of the fuel is combusted in a pre-burner. The flow direction of the partially combusted fuel/oxidizer mixture is reversed, whereby the mixture is introduced into a combustion chamber. The fuel and oxidizer are combusted in the combustion chamber. The combustion products exit a throat and an expansion plenum in a direction similar to the first direction, whereby the combustion products exit a nozzle of the rocket engine, providing thrust.

A propulsion assembly for a rocket includes a propellant tank configured to contain a propellant and an engine comprising a combustion chamber configured to subject the propellant to combustion and generate exhaust gases. The propulsion assembly further includes a supply circuit and an exhaust gas circuit. The supply circuit is disposed between the propellant tank and the combustion chamber, and the supply circuit is configured to supply the combustion chamber with the propellant. The exhaust gas circuit is disposed between the combustion chamber and the propellant tank, and the exhaust gas circuit is configured to convey at least part of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to the propellant tank to provide pressurization of the propellant tank.

A propulsion assembly for a rocket includes a propellant tank configured to contain a propellant and an engine comprising a combustion chamber configured to subject the propellant to combustion and generate exhaust gases. The propulsion assembly further includes a supply circuit and an exhaust gas circuit. The supply circuit is disposed between the propellant tank and the combustion chamber, and the supply circuit is configured to supply the combustion chamber with the propellant. The exhaust gas circuit is disposed between the combustion chamber and the propellant tank, and the exhaust gas circuit is configured to convey at least part of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to the propellant tank to provide pressurization of the propellant tank.

The present disclosure relates to a rocket engine, and more particularly, a rocket engine with an integrated combustor head and turbopump in which a turbopump of the rocket engine is formed integrally with a combustor head.