A method of increasing the glass transition point of a cured epoxy comprising a bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and a polyetheramine includes the step of including 1,8-diamino-p-menthane as an additional hardener for curing the epoxy. An epoxy formulation includes bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and a hardener including a polyetheramine and 1,8-diamino-p-menthane.

A passive insulating tank support structure includes a first interface ring mounted to a first tank, a first support ring surrounding and spaced apart from the first interface ring, a second interface ring mounted to a second tank, a plurality of first struts coupling the first and second interface rings, a plurality of second struts coupling the first support ring and second interface ring, a plurality of third struts coupling the first support ring and a first heat source, a third interface ring mounted to the second tank, and a plurality of fourth struts coupling the third interface ring and a second heat source.

A pressure vessel containing a main body with at least one opening. The pressure vessel is made from a BMG material. The pressure vessel may contain an additional part such as a neck, a liner, a rib, a lattice, a fin, and a diaphragm. The pressure vessel may be free of a welded joint in entirety. The pressure vessel may contain multiple parts in the main body, each of which is free of a welded joint. The pressure vessel may be made through thermoplastic forming.

A vapor cooled insulation structure includes at least one vapor sealed layer, created with discrete spacers between two layers. A vapor transport layer is created within these layers through which a cold fluid may flow to intercept and remove heat from an underlying structure. In one example, the vapor cooled system carries cold vapor which is in direct contact with an underlying cryogenic tank structural support.

A method for producing a light-weight pressure tank with a light-weight pressure container from a metal material, the light weight pressure container including at least one polar or equatorial attachment element and a container wall connected to the at least one polar or equatorial attachment element, wherein at least the container wall is formed integrally in one piece with the at least one polar or equatorial attachment element by additive manufacturing by a thermal spraying method by applying the metal material to a convex or concave mold surface of a cambered formwork mold by a spray jet through at least one spray nozzle.

A spacecraft includes a propulsion system that includes one or more pressurant tanks configured to store an inert gas at a high pressure, one or more propellant tanks configured to store liquid propellant at an intermediate pressure, electric thrusters operable with the inert gas at a low pressure and pneumatically coupled with the one or more pressurant tanks by way of a first pressure regulator, and chemical thrusters operable with the liquid propellant. The inert gas is one or a mixture of two or more of xenon, argon and krypton. At least a portion of the liquid propellant is stored in at least one of the propellant tanks, the propellant tank including an ullage volume pneumatically coupled with at least one of the pressurant tanks by way of a second pressure regulator having an output set to the intermediate pressure and the ullage volume is pressurized by the inert gas.

A set (10) for dispensing liquefied gas from a vessel (100) comprises a supporting structure (1), a pump (2) and a conditioning system (4). The supporting structure is designed for maintaining both the pump and the conditioning system inside the vessel when the set is in operation condition for dispensing a flow of liquefied gas. The set allows easy handling, simple fitting to the vessel and easy removal from the vessel because a main part of said set can be handled as a one-block element.

An insulation panel includes a face sheet hermetically coupled to a plurality of structural walls to define a plurality of cell bodies, with each cell body positioned contiguously with an adjacent cell body. An insulation structure is disposed within each cell body and further includes a first radiant barrier layer, a second radiant barrier layer, and a spacer disposed between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer. Sealed cells formed by completing the cell bodies may contain a gas that condenses or freezes in response to cryogenic cooling of a structure to which the insulation panel is coupled. Load-responsive spacers may also be disposed between the insulation structure and the face sheet to support the face sheet while in atmospheric conditions and to disengage from the face sheet in low pressure environments, such as space.

Various embodiments of space launch vehicle systems and associated methods of manufacture and use are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the systems include a reusable, horizontal takeoff/horizontal landing (HTHL), ground-assisted single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spaceplane that is capable of providing frequent deliveries of people and/or cargo to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In some embodiments, the spaceplane can takeoff with the aid of a rocket-powered sled that, in addition to providing additional thrust for takeoff, can also provide propellant for the spaceplane engines during the takeoff run so that the spaceplane launches with full propellant tanks.

A system and method for protecting a lightweight pressure vessel capable of airborne and underwater use. The system includes an enclosure and a gas container that is capable of holding pressurized or liquefied gas in sufficient quantity to increase internal pressure of the pressure vessel, so that the internal pressure of the pressure vessel equals an external pressure of the pressure vessel. The system also includes a pressure relief device coupled to the enclosure. The pressure relief device is configured to release the pressurized or liquefied gas from the pressure vessel when the internal pressure exceeds the external pressure by a predetermined amount. The system also includes a gas supply mechanism coupled to the gas container, the gas supply mechanism being configured to allow gas from the gas container into order to increase the internal pressure of the pressure vessel until the internal pressure equals the external pressure.