Method and apparatus for controlling pressure in a pressure vessel. A plurality of valves between a pressure source and a pressure vessel can be selectively opened or turned off, singularly or in combinations, to control pressure in the pressure vessel. A maximum pressure threshold and a minimum pressure threshold can be established based on operating considerations of the pressure vessel. One or more of the valves can be turned on when the pressure in the pressure vessel reaches the minimum pressure threshold. One or more of the valves can be turned off when the pressure in the pressure vessel reaches the maximum pressure threshold.

A rocket propellant tank arrangement (40) for storing fuel and oxidizer for launching a rocket includes an oxygen tank (42) for storing liquid oxygen and a fuel tank (52) for storing liquid fuel, wherein the fuel tank is at least partially arranged within the oxygen tank.

A system and method for shedding redundant launcher tank mass, comprising progressing means, and cutting means configured to cut redundant propellant tank wall, the system configured to progress inside the tank, along the tank wall in an initially predetermined rate.

A liquid propellant driven hydraulic pressure supply device may include an elongated body having an internal bore extending from a power end to a discharge end having a discharge port, a hydraulic fluid disposed in the bore between a piston and the discharge end and a liquid propellant gas generator connected to the power end.

Monopropellants comprising nonstoichiometric ratios of 2-hydroxyethylhydrazine cation (HEH+) and nitrate anion and water have improved thermal stability and fluid characteristics compared to nonstoichiometric ratios of HEH+ and nitrate anion without water. These monopropellants are useful for gas generators and rocket motors.

A method and apparatus for reducing consequences of a bulkhead failure for a liquid methane and liquefied oxygen rocket in which the rocket has a body, an oxygen tank positioned in the body, a fuel tank positioned in the body, at least one rocket engine positioned adjacent an end of the body, a bulkhead formed in the body between the oxygen tank and the fuel tank, and a container having triethylaluminum therein. The rocket engine is adapted to mix oxygen from the oxygen tank with fuel from the fuel tank. The container of triethylaluminum is positioned between the bulkhead and the fuel tank. The fuel tank will contain liquefied natural gas therein. The oxygen tank contains liquid oxygen.

A system for controlling a distribution of propellant in a propellant tank assembly for a spacecraft comprises a body for containing the propellant, a plurality of thermal tomography elements, including a plurality of temperature-control elements and a plurality of temperature sensors, disposed around the body for detecting the distribution of the propellant inside the body; and a tomography element control module arranged to control the plurality of temperature-control elements to redistribute the propellant inside the propellant tank body by heating and/or cooling the propellant. In an embodiment, the propellant tank body includes a propellant management device inside the body and the tomography elements are disposed in proximity to the propellant management device. Tomography data can be obtained from the plurality of tomography elements, and a distribution of propellant within the propellant tank body can be determined based on the obtained tomography data.

A formation assembly for use in manufacturing a reinforced insulation panel including a foam material and a reinforcing structure includes a back plate including a first surface configured to receive the foam material, and a first support sheet spaced from the first surface to form a gap therebetween, wherein the first support sheet supports the reinforcing structure. The formation assembly also includes a second support sheet spaced from the first support sheet, wherein the second support sheet defines an upper boundary of the reinforced insulation panel. A rigid structure is coupled to the second support sheet, wherein the rigid structure restricts movement of the reinforced insulation panel.

A projectile fuel system has with a liquid fuel tank, a liquid oxygen tank, a first turbine, and a second turbine. A combining device merges a first carbon dioxide exhaust with the second supercritical carbon dioxide exhaust to form a first heated supercritical carbon dioxide. A control valve proportions the first portion of heated supercritical carbon dioxide and the second portion of heated supercritical carbon dioxide to each of the first turbine and the second turbine, adjust total flow rate both of the first portion of heated supercritical carbon dioxide and the second portion of heated supercritical carbon dioxide and adjust the total flow of supercritical carbon dioxide from a jacket.

A composite tank for a reusable launch vehicle comprises a composite wall, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The composite wall comprises a first end, a second end, a central axis, which passes through the first end and through the second end, and a cylindrical interior surface. The composite tank also comprises slosh baffles, formed from a second material, having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. Each of the slosh baffles is attached to the cylindrical interior surface of the composite wall. Each of the slosh baffles is annular and is separated from the cylindrical interior surface of the composite wall by a radial gap, selected, in part, based on a difference between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion. The radial gap is configured to change responsive to changes in temperature of the composite tank.