The invention relates to the field of feeding devices, in particular for feeding rockets on the ground. A feeding device (4) of the invention comprises at least two mutually complementary feeding connectors (5, 6), a breakable connection member (15) connecting these two feeding connectors (5, 6) together and presenting a breakable section (15c) between these two feeding connectors (5, 6), and a force transmission member (16) connected to said breakable section (15c) in such a manner as to transmit a breaking load thereto in order to unlock the connection between the two feeding connectors (5, 6). During unlocking, a breaking load transmitted by the force transmission member (16) thus serves to break the breakable section (15c).

A modulation device for modulating a gas ejection section, the device being for placing in a nozzle upstream from the throat of the nozzle, the modulation device including a plug having a downstream end forming a member for partially obstructing the nozzle throat; and a plug guide having an internal housing in which the upstream end of the plug is present. The upstream end of the plug is suitable for sliding in the internal housing of the plug guide between a first position in which the upstream end of the plug is present in an upstream portion of the internal housing, and a second position in which the upstream end is present in a downstream portion of the internal housing. The upstream end of the plug is held in the first position by at least one retaining element for breaking under the effect of heat.

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.

A pogo effect corrector system for a feed system for feeding a rocket engine with liquid propellant, the corrector system comprising: a feed pipe part for feeding liquid propellant that is configured to be connected both upstream and downstream to a liquid propellant feed pipe of the feed system; and a hydraulic accumulator comprising a tank connected to the feed pipe part via at least one communication orifice; the corrector system being characterized in that: at least a portion of the feed pipe part is at least partly surrounded by the inner volume of the tank; with each cross-section of said portion relative to its central axis being at least partly surrounded by the corresponding cross-section of the inner volume of the tank, in such a manner that the corresponding cross-section of the inner volume of the tank is off-center relative to said cross-section of said portion.

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.

Rocket propulsion systems and associated methods are disclosed. A representative system includes a combustion chamber having an inwardly-facing chamber wall enclosing a combustion zone. The chamber has a generally spherical shape and is exposed to the combustion zone. A propellant injector is coupled to the combustion chamber and has at least one fuel injector nozzle positioned to direct a flow of cooling fuel radially outwardly along the inwardly-facing chamber wall. In addition to or in lieu of the foregoing features, the injector can include an oxidizer piston and a fuel piston that deliver oxidizer and fuel, respectively, to the combustion chamber, in a sequenced manner so that the oxidizer is introduced prior to the fuel.

A rocket propulsion system (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprising: a propellant tank (208, 306, 308, 406, 408, 506, 508, 606, 608) arranged to contain propellant, a liquid pressurant tank (202, 302, 402, 502a, 602a) arranged to contain a liquid pressurant and to supply the pressurant to the propellant tank to pressurise the propellant tank, an engine (211, 311, 411, 511, 611), the engine comprising: a combustion chamber (210, 310, 410, 510, 610) arranged to receive pressurised propellant from the propellant tank and defining a volume for combusting the pressurised propellant to produce an exhaust product, and an exhaust nozzle (212, 312, 412, 512, 612) arranged to receive the exhaust product from the combustion chamber, and a heat exchanger (214, 314, 414, 514, 614) arranged to transfer heat from the engine to the pressurant.

Provided herein are various improvements to rocket engine components and rocket engine operational techniques. In one example, a rocket engine propellant injection apparatus is provided that includes a manifold formed into a single body by an additive manufacturing process and comprising a fuel cavity and an oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes one or more propellant feed stubs, the one or more propellant feed stubs protruding from the manifold and formed into the single body of the manifold by the additive manufacturing process, with at least a first stub configured to carry fuel to the fuel cavity and at least a second stub configured to carry oxidizer to the oxidizer cavity. The manifold also includes a plurality of injection features formed by apertures in a face of the manifold, ones of the plurality of injection features configured to inject the fuel and the oxidizer for combustion.

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.

Chemical propellant storage and supply systems and methods for use on spacecraft are provided. The systems and methods include a fluid pump for moving chemical propellant within the system at selected pressures. This can include operating the fluid pump to supply propellant to a thruster system at a selected pressure. A fuel tank can be refilled by connecting a propellant resupply source to the system, and operating the fluid pump to move propellant from the propellant resupply source to the fuel tank. In a system with multiple fuel tanks, the fluid pump can be operated to move propellant from a donor fuel tank to a recipient fuel tank. The chemical propellant can be stored in one or more fuel tanks at a relatively low pressure. In addition, the chemical propellant is not pressurized by a gaseous pressurant while it is stored in the fuel tank.