A method in a spacecraft for transporting propellant to be consumed by a thruster includes storing the propellant in the spacecraft in a solid state during at least a portion of a take-off procedure and supplying the propellant to the thruster in a liquid or vaporous state when the spacecraft is in space.

A liquid behavior suppression device in which the inside of a liquid container is partitioned in a direction orthogonal to the central axis, liquid is held on the bottom side of the liquid container, and a plurality of holes extending in the axial direction are formed.

The present invention relates to improved rocket engine systems. In one embodiment, an improved rocket engine system includes a propellant source, at least one power source, at least one power source motor, a rocket engine, and at least one pump. The improved rocket engine system may further include at least one of the following: at least one controller, at least one propellant valve, and a propellant pressurizing source.

Concurrent rocket engine pre-conditioning and tank filling is disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes an inlet valve to supply a rocket propellant tank that is associated with a rocket engine with rocket propellant, and a flow director to direct at least a portion of a flow of the rocket propellant from the inlet valve to a chill line of the rocket engine to thermally condition the rocket engine as the rocket propellant tank is being filled with the rocket propellant.

To provide a propellant tank such as a fuel tank and an oxidant tank for a spacecraft, the propellant tank discharging propellant such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen accumulated therein toward a rocket engine by pressurizing an inside thereof by operating gas. The propellant tank includes a tank body that accumulates therein the propellant in a liquid state, and a holding container that is provided inside the tank body and disposed with a predetermined gap from an inner wall of the tank body, so that the propellant in a liquid state can be held therein, when the inside of the tank body is in a microgravity state or a zero-gravity state.

The invention relates to a container for receiving, storing, and dispensing liquids and/or viscous substances, in particular fuel, propellant, or drinking water, comprising a casing (12) with a microscopic surface structure (16) that is integrally formed on at least some parts of the casing (10) and comprises at least one approximately groove- and/or channel-shaped capillary (20) which is arranged in an interior (14) of the container (10) on the inner face (18) of the casing (12) such that an end (22) of the capillary faces an outlet opening (24) of the container (10), which extends into a region (24) that is adjacent to or borders the outlet opening (24) of the container (10), and which is made of two lateral walls (26) that are paired together and run together for conveying the liquid and/or the viscous substance within the capillary (20) to the outlet opening (24) of the container (10). The invention also relates to a method for producing the container and to the use thereof.

A three-dimensional monolithic diaphragm tank including a first portion having a first inner surface, a second portion having a second inner surface, and a deformable diaphragm extending from a peripheral junction with the first inner surface and the second inner surface. The first inner surface and the diaphragm defining a first chamber. The second inner surface and the diaphragm defining a second chamber. The first portion having an outlet port in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the second portion having an inlet port in fluid communication with the second chamber. The peripheral junction of the diaphragm and the first inner surface including an integral inner fillet having an inner radius.

Systems and methods for equalizing fluid levels within a vent line and a propellant tank in which the vent line is located are discussed herein. The vent line includes a vent valve and an equalization valve. The vent valve can be included in a vent duct of the vent line. The equalization valve is included in a bottom wall (i.e., a low point) of the vent duct of the vent line. A controller is also included in the system to instruct a vent valve and the equalization valve to open and close.

The flow rate control device includes a main plate corresponding to an inner diameter and including a through hole which is formed at the center thereof and through which a fluid flows, a sub-plate corresponding to a size of the through hole, disposed in front of the main plate, and applied with a pressure of the flowing fluid, and an expansion and contraction flow path formed to connect the through hole and a circumference of the sub-plate to each other and expanded and contracted by the pressure applied to the sub-plate. The expansion and contraction flow path includes a plurality of holes which are formed in a side surface thereof and through which the flow flows, and has a cross-sectional area changed by the pressure to control a flow rate.

A three-dimensional monolithic diaphragm tank including a first portion having a first inner surface, a second portion having a second inner surface, and a deformable diaphragm extending from a peripheral junction with the first inner surface and the second inner surface. The first inner surface and the diaphragm defining a first chamber. The second inner surface and the diaphragm defining a second chamber. The first portion having an outlet port in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the second portion having an inlet port in fluid communication with the second chamber. The peripheral junction of the diaphragm and the first inner surface including an integral inner fillet having an inner radius.