A method of starting combustion of a space vehicle engine, the method comprising igniting a propellant tank heater (25); once the heater (25) has reached stable conditions, pressurizing a first tank (23) containing the first propellant and a second tank (24) containing a second propellant, and in parallel filling respectively a first igniter tank (13) with the first propellant in gaseous form and a second igniter tank (14) with the second propellant in gaseous form until ignition thresholds values of temperature (T.sub.13, T.sub.14) and of pressure (P.sub.13, P.sub.14) have been reached; and injecting the first and second propellants in gaseous form contained in the first and second igniter tanks (13 and 14) into an igniter (12) of the engine, so as to initiate combustion.

A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.

A system and methods are disclosed for an upper stage space launch vehicle that uses gases from the propellant tanks to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other components including a generator for generation of electrical current for operating compressors and fluid pumps and for charging batteries. These components and others comprise a thermodynamic system from which system enthalpy may be leveraged by extracting and moving heat to increase the efficient use of propellant and the longevity and performance of the launch vehicle.

A device heating a fluid and usable in a rocket launcher to pressurize a liquefied propellant. The device includes a first burner performing first combustion between a limiting propellant and an excess propellant; a first heat exchanger in which first burnt gas from the first combustion transfers heat to the fluid; at least one second burner into which both the first burnt gas and some limiting propellant are injected to perform second combustion between the limiting propellant and at least a portion of unburnt excess propellant present in the first burnt gas. The second burnt gas from the second combustion flows through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to the fluid. Burnt gas from each combustion flows in respective burnt gas tubes within a common overall heat exchanger including the heat exchange units, the gas transferring heat to the fluid, the fluid flowing between the burnt gas tubes.

A device heating a fluid and usable in a rocket launcher to pressurize a liquefied propellant. The device includes a first burner performing first combustion between a limiting propellant and an excess propellant; a first heat exchanger in which first burnt gas from the first combustion transfers heat to the fluid; at least one second burner into which both the first burnt gas and some limiting propellant are injected to perform second combustion between the limiting propellant and at least a portion of unburnt excess propellant present in the first burnt gas. The second burnt gas from the second combustion flows through a second heat exchanger to transfer heat to the fluid. Burnt gas from each combustion flows in respective burnt gas tubes within a common overall heat exchanger including the heat exchange units, the gas transferring heat to the fluid, the fluid flowing between the burnt gas tubes.

A field of vehicles propelled by reaction, and more specifically to a method of suppressing the pogo effect in such a vehicle. A feed system for feeding a reaction engine of the vehicle includes a hydraulic accumulator enabling a selection to be made from among a plurality of predetermined operating levels, each corresponding to a different volume of gas. In the method, if a first reference criterion is not satisfied by the current level, the hydraulic accumulator is ordered to make a transition, preferably to an alternative level selected from among alternative levels for which the first reference criterion is satisfied and for which no hydraulic resonant frequency crosses any current mechanical resonant frequency during the transition.

A field of vehicles propelled by reaction, and more specifically to a method of suppressing the pogo effect in such a vehicle. A feed system for feeding a reaction engine of the vehicle includes a hydraulic accumulator enabling a selection to be made from among a plurality of predetermined operating levels, each corresponding to a different volume of gas. In the method, if a first reference criterion is not satisfied by the current level, the hydraulic accumulator is ordered to make a transition, preferably to an alternative level selected from among alternative levels for which the first reference criterion is satisfied and for which no hydraulic resonant frequency crosses any current mechanical resonant frequency during the transition.

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).

According to one contemplated embodiment of the rocket engine invention, water is first pumped from a water tank through a rocket nozzle cooling heat exchanger wherein it is evaporated into said superheated steam. A generator supplies electricity to an electrolyzer that electrolyzes superheated steam into gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen. The gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen is employed for forming an annular curtain of secondary combustion in a divergent rocket engine. The secondary combustion gas surrounds a central thrust of combustion gas produced in an upstream combustion chamber by a primary injection of hydrogen/oxygen supplied from a liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank. The rocket liquid hydrogen tank and liquid oxygen tank are pressurized by gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen generated by the electrolyzer.

A propulsion assembly for a rocket includes a propellant tank configured to contain a propellant and an engine comprising a combustion chamber configured to subject the propellant to combustion and generate exhaust gases. The propulsion assembly further includes a supply circuit and an exhaust gas circuit. The supply circuit is disposed between the propellant tank and the combustion chamber, and the supply circuit is configured to supply the combustion chamber with the propellant. The exhaust gas circuit is disposed between the combustion chamber and the propellant tank, and the exhaust gas circuit is configured to convey at least part of the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber to the propellant tank to provide pressurization of the propellant tank.