Vehicles with control surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a rocket can include a plurality of bidirectional control surfaces positioned toward an aft portion of the rocket. In this embodiment, the bidirectional control surfaces can be operable to control the orientation and/or flight path of the rocket during both ascent, in a nose-first orientation, and descent, in a tail-first orientation for, e.g., a tail-down landing. Launch vehicles with fixed and deployable deceleration surfaces and associated systems and methods are also disclosed.

An aerodynamic platform or spacecraft including a habitable 1G centripetal force rotating gravity producing interior corridor within an aerodynamic shell and an aerodynamic drone booster launch system with reentry and reuse capability.

A vehicle for capturing a falling object comprises a plurality of air cushion units, wherein each of the air cushion units is configured to generate a propulsive force to drive the vehicle and a lift force to elevate the vehicle; a linking structure arranged to link the air cushion units together; and a receiver arranged to receive the falling object, wherein the receiver is coupled to the linking structure.

Vehicles with control surfaces and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a rocket can include a plurality of bidirectional control surfaces positioned toward an aft portion of the rocket. In this embodiment, the bidirectional control surfaces can be operable to control the orientation and/or flight path of the rocket during both ascent, in a nose-first orientation, and descent, in a tail-first orientation for, e.g., a tail-down landing. Launch vehicles with fixed and deployable deceleration surfaces and associated systems and methods are also disclosed.

A landing device for a low gravity lander having a main body. The landing device comprises a number of leg-like rods attached to the main body, wherein, in a deployment position of the rods, each of the number of rods is inclined with regard to a plane of a first side surface of the main body such that the rods substantially extend in a direction of movement of the low gravity lander. Furthermore, the number of rods is made such that they bend or buckle under forces within a predetermined range by an impact due to a landing on a landing surface, thereby absorbing an impact momentum.

An innovative landing system for a spacecraft according to the invention includes a foldable tether-based carrier structure that when unfolded assumes wheel-type shape and in its centre supports a carrier platform for the payload of the spacecraft.

This patent discloses a powerplant for an aerial vehicle comprised of Perovskite-Silicon tandem photovoltaic solar cells covering the wings and fuselage, a lithium-sulfur battery, a high-pressure unitized regenerative proton exchange membrane (PEM) device, and hydrogen tanks. The PEM device has a fuel-cell mode and an electrolysis mode. During level flight, the PEM device operates in fuel-cell mode, converting hydrogen into electricity. The electricity is used to run a plurality of pairs of permanent magnet synchronous motors, coupled to propellers, and mounted in a coaxial rotor configuration. During level flight, the array of solar cells re-charges the LiS battery pack. During takeoff and landing, the LiS battery pack supplements the electricity generated by the PEM device in fuel-cell mode. On the ground, the solar cells provides electricity to the PEM device, which operates in electrolysis mode, converting water into hydrogen gas, which is then stored in the hydrogen tanks.

A passive landing system for decelerating a payload delivered from orbit or at orbital velocity onto a non-atmospheric celestial body, including a catcher assembly positioned to intercept incoming payloads at orbital speeds, and a deceleration system mechanically coupled to the catcher assembly and extending along a sloped terrain, wherein the system decelerates the payload by exchanging momentum between the descending payload and the extended deceleration system, without the use of propulsion. A landing system for oversized payloads on a non-atmospheric celestial body, which can be used in combination with the passive landing system, including a structure configured to house and secure large-volume cargo during descent and deceleration, a surface interaction mechanism configured to establish frictional contact with regolith of the celestial body, and a dynamic deployment system that controls the extent and duration of surface contact during descent, wherein the landing system decelerates primarily by converting kinetic energy into heat and mechanical resistance through friction with the regolith.

A rocket landing stabilization system can include one or more upright support structures such as posts, columns, or walls, from which one or more stabilizing elements can be supported. The stabilizing elements can be used to stabilize a rocket as it lands at a landing site. The rocket landing stabilization system can also include a cradle, funnel, or cone to catch or otherwise support a rocket as it lands at the landing site. The rocket landing stabilization system can be located on land or at sea.

Stud-propelling mechanisms for securing a launch vehicle to a landing platform, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. A representative system includes a fastening mechanism carried by a landing support element of a portion of a launch vehicle, the mechanism configured to fasten the landing support element to the landing surface when the launch vehicle portion is on the landing surface. The fastening mechanism can include a barrel structure for propelling a stud and an interference portion positioned to receive the stud upon activation of an energetic material that propels the stud. The stud can bind in the interference portion and in the landing surface to fasten the landing support element to the landing surface. A representative method includes automatically fastening a portion of a launch vehicle to a landing surface using a stud carried by the portion of the launch vehicle.