An electrical power system has a dual battery configuration that enables sufficient power supply for a spacecraft bus and a payload module being carried by the spacecraft. During a sunlight power mode, power is drawn from a solar array of the bus to power a low-discharge payload of the spacecraft and a high-discharge payload of a payload module. During the sunlight power mode, a low rate discharge battery and a high rate discharge battery are charged by a battery charge management unit of the spacecraft bus. During an eclipse power mode, the low rate discharge battery powers the low-discharge payload of the spacecraft and the high rate discharge battery powers the high-discharge payload of the payload module. The high-rate discharge battery may also be used to power the high-rate discharge payload in the sunlight power mode to meet its high current demands to meet a flexible mission operations.

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for astronautic rotating mass propulsion. The method and apparatus entails rotating a mass to generate thrust. Varying the speed and direction of rotation provides some control of the magnitude and direction of the thrust generated. The apparatus of the invention pertinent to a propulsion system for spacecrafts or astromotive vehicles under conditions of zero to low gravity and atmosphere.

A micro-cathode arc propulsion system. By replacing an inductive circuit in a traditional micro-cathode arc propulsion system with a capacitor circuit, the stability of the operation of a micro-cathode arc thruster can be improved due to the stable discharging mode of the capacitor, and as the internal resistance of the capacitor is small during operation, the additional power consumption of the circuit is reduced, and the efficiency of the system is improved. In addition, as a pulse power supply is used to power in a pulse manner, the average power inputted into the micro-cathode arc thruster is greatly reduced.

Disclosed are a method of flying on the moon and a device for flying using the method. A medium on a surface of a moon and a medium accelerating module are used in the flying method. The medium is transferred into the medium accelerating module, accelerated by the medium accelerating module, and ejected out of the medium accelerating module by using a power supply. A counterforce is generated in accordance with the momentum conservation, and the counterforce overcomes the lunar gravity and drives a load to take off. The method is suitable for the environment of the moon where flight by means of atmospheric buoyancy is impossible due to the shortage of atmosphere.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for transitioning a spacecraft from a power-saving state to a power-consuming state at a time after launch of the spacecraft on a launch vehicle. Because the spacecraft can detect conditions for transitioning to the power-consuming state, commands received via an umbilical connection to the launch vehicle, or detecting the presence or absence of such a connection, is unnecessary, thereby removing several technical barriers to eliminating such umbilical connections altogether.

A rocket propulsion system comprising a first cryogenic tank and a second cryogenic tank, wherein the first cryogenic tank is filled with a first propellant, and the second cryogenic tank is filled with a second propellant, for purposes of feeding at least one repeatedly ignitable main propulsion unit in a propulsion phase of the rocket propulsion system. For purposes of tank pressurization via at least a low level of acceleration in a ballistic phase, a first auxiliary propulsion unit can be operated by means of a first gas pressure accumulator, and at least one further auxiliary propulsion unit can be operated by means of a further gas pressure accumulator, and the rocket propulsion system is assigned an energy conversion unit, which is designed at least to charge the first and the second gas pressure accumulator, preferably in the ballistic phase.

A battery arrangement for the load-bearing structural integration of batteries into a vehicle, in particular an aircraft or spacecraft, includes two cover plates having battery holders and batteries, which are held on both sides between the cover plates by the battery holders, wherein the batteries are arranged in battery rows along the cover plates, wherein the batteries in the battery rows are each aligned at a slope angle relative to the cover plates in order to absorb and transmit loads, and wherein the slope angle in the battery rows has positive and negative values.

Embodiments of the present invention include modular solar power cells, arrays, and power management systems for use in satellite systems and constellations. In one embodiment, a solar cell module can include: a module substrate including a high-emissivity side and a mounting side; a power management circuit mounted to the mounting side of the module substrate; a battery arranged adjacent to the power management circuit; a solar cell substrate arranged adjacent the battery and including an embedded battery heater; and a solar cell mounted directly to the solar cell substrate and connected to the battery.

The present invention describes methods, systems, and devices for utilizing high-intensity regions within atmospheres of planetary bodies to receive and harvest electricity. Such high-intensity regions are formed as a result of the combined gravitational forces affecting a given planetary body and particularly the particles within the atmosphere of that planetary body. The combined gravitational forces result in a gravitational resonant frequency which affects the atmosphere most intensely within said high-intensity regions. By determining moments of gravitational resonant frequencies based on a given location, the methods, systems, and devices described herein utilize the energy provided within the high-intensity regions during the determined moments. Harvesting and further transmitting the collected energy is also disclosed.

A stage for a space launch vehicle is provided. The space launch vehicle has a main body including a first end and a second end, and defines a central longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. The stage comprises a stage rocket engine arranged at or near the first end of the stage to propel the launch vehicle vertically upwards at take-off. The stage furthermore comprises a plurality of fans for providing lift during a landing procedure of the stage, wherein the fans have a rotational axis arranged substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Also provided are space launch vehicles and methods for transporting a payload into space.