An attitude control and thrust boosting system (100) for a space launcher is disclosed, wherein the space launcher is equipped with a rocket engine (303) provided with an exhaust nozzle. The exhaust nozzle comprises a divergent portion (302) so designed as to make a supersonic gas flow exit through an exit section defined by a given angle of divergence with respect to a longitudinal axis of the rocket engine. The attitude control and thrust boosting system (100) comprises flaps (110, 111, 112, 113) that are arranged around the exit section, are shaped so as to extend the divergent portion of the exhaust nozzle, are mechanically decoupled from said exhaust nozzle and can be actuated to take different angular positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rocket engine. Control means (130) are also provided to receive quantities indicative of an actual attitude of the space launcher and an ambient static pressure, and to make the flaps (110,111,112,113) take a neutral angular position where the flaps (110,111,112,113) are inclined, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rocket engine, according to an inclination angle greater than, or equal to, the given angle of divergence, in order to control the neutral angular position taken by the flaps (110,111,112,113) according to the ambient static pressure and to make one or more flaps (110,111,112,113) take an angular position different than the neutral angular position according to the actual attitude of the space launcher and to a required attitude for said space launcher.

Disclosed is a space cold gas thruster operating with a solid propellant. The cold gas thruster includes a tank suitable for containing a solid propellant and a tank heating device suitable for sublimating the solid propellant and forming gaseous propellant, the tank having an aperture for transferring the gaseous propellant outside the tank, such as a nozzle. Also disclosed is a process for determining the amount of remaining propellant in the propellant tank of the disclosed cold gas thruster.

A system for positioning at least one satellite in working orbit, characterized in that the system for positioning satellites in working orbit comprises: a first attachment device configured to attach a first satellite to the system for positioning satellites in working orbit; a main propulsion device with solid propulsion comprising a plurality of parallel solid-propellant cartridges; a secondary propulsion device which is re-ignitable; at least one position sensor configured to measure the position of said system; a monitoring unit connected to said at least one position sensor and which is configured to control a firing of the cartridges of the main propulsion device to move said system from a transfer orbit to a working orbit of the first satellite, said monitoring unit being further configured to control an opening of the first attachment device to separate said system from the first satellite.

This disclosure describes various techniques and systems for rapid low-cost access to suborbital and orbital space and accommodation of acceleration of sensitive payloads to space. For example, a distributed gas injection system may be used in a ram accelerator to launch multiple payloads through the atmosphere. Additionally or alternatively, multiple projectiles may assemble during flight through the atmosphere to transfer and/or resources to another projectile.

A system for laser-driven propulsion, system comprising a laser source and a target comprising an accelerating part and a projectile part, the accelerating part comprising a metal layer and a porous layer pressed against the metal layer; wherein the laser source is selected to emit pulse beams directed to the metal layer at a fluence below the plasma ablation threshold of the material of the metal layer.

Various implementations of an extinguishable, solid propellant divert system for a flight vehicle are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for using the divert system to control the flight of a flight vehicle. In one implementation, a divert system includes a hot gas generator pneumatically linked to one or more divert thrusters and an extinguishment valve. The extinguishment valve can be opened to rapidly depressurize the hot gas generator and extinguish the solid propellant burning inside. In another implementation, a method of controlling the trajectory of the flight vehicle includes repeatedly igniting and extinguishing the solid propellant in a hot gas generator and using the hot gas to provide divert thrust for the flight vehicle.

A networked electronic ordnance system is provided. The system includes a first plurality of pyrotechnic devices connected to a first network bus. The system further includes a first bus controller connected to the first network bus. The system further includes a second plurality of pyrotechnic devices connected to a second network bus. The system further includes a second bus controller connected to the second network bus. The system further includes a bus interface circuit connected to the first bus controller by a first electrical connection and connected to the second bus controller by a second electrical connection.

A propulsion system for use with a satellite comprises a substrate, a communication network and a cluster of individually selectable solid fuel motors mounted on the substrate and operatively connected to the communication network. A controller is also operatively connected to the communication network and operative to select any one of more motors of the cluster of individually selectable solid fuel motors and transmit signals to fire the one or more motors of the individually selectable solid fuel motors. The substrate may have various configurations. The cluster of motors may comprise 10-1000 motors, which may be arranged in a rectangular array or other formation. Subsets of motors having different impulse capabilities may be employed. In this manner, lighter, smaller, flexible and more efficient propulsions systems may be provided for use in attitude control, etc. of satellites.

A satellite has thrusters that are integral parts of its frame. The frame defines cavities therein where thrusters are located. The thrusters may include an electrically-operated propellant and electrodes to activate combustion in the electrically-operated propellant. The frame may be additively manufactured, and the propellant and/or the electrodes may also be additively manufactured, with the frame and the propellant and/or the electrodes also being manufactured in a single process. In addition the thrusters may have nozzle portions through which combustion gases exit the thrusters. The thrusters may be located at corners and/or along edges of the frame, and may be used to accomplish any of a variety of maneuvers for the satellite. The satellite may be a small satellite, such as a CubeSat satellite, for instance having a volume of about 1 liter, and a mass of no more than about 1.33 kg.

A catalytic thruster includes a reaction chamber that extends between first and second opposed chamber ends. The first chamber end includes a thermal standoff cup. There is a catalyst bed in the reaction chamber, and a feed tube extends into the reaction chamber through the thermal standoff cup.