A turbojet engine capable of operation in an Air Turbo Rocket (ATR) mode includes a compressor, a rotatable turbine wheel comprising turbine blades, a non-rotating guide vane ring comprising guide vanes, a turbine shaft configured to power said compressor, a combustor, a gas generator, and a main combustor. The main combustor is configured to combust hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator in air compressed by the compressor. Hot, fuel rich gas from the gas generator is directed towards the turbine blades by a directing means.

A hybrid metal composite (HMC) structure comprises tiers comprising fiber composite material structures, and additional tiers longitudinally adjacent one or more of the tiers and comprising perforated metallic structures and additional fiber composite material structures laterally adjacent the perforated metallic structures. Methods of forming an HMC structure, and related rocket motors and multi-stage rocket motor assemblies are also disclosed.

A hybrid metal composite (HMC) structure comprises tiers comprising fiber composite material structures, and additional tiers longitudinally adjacent one or more of the tiers and comprising perforated metallic structures and additional fiber composite material structures laterally adjacent the perforated metallic structures. Methods of forming an HMC structure, and related rocket motors and multi-stage rocket motor assemblies are also disclosed.

A power generation system includes a manifold having multiple plenums, capable of receiving multiple solid rocket motors. Initiators are coupled to the manifold, and are operatively coupled to respective of the plenums, to selectively fire different groups of the rocket motors coupled to respective of the plenums. The rocket motors act in parallel, to provide thrust in a single direction. The initiators may activate ignition charges that are in the plenums. The plenums may be annular plenums, which may be located in an annular manifold. The plenums may be lined with an insulator material. A cover may be used to cover the plenums, and also to receive the rocket motors. The rocket motors may be solid-fuel rocket motors, with propellant grains and nozzles. The individual rocket motors may have separate ignition booster charges coupled to the plenum, which are ignited by the ignition charge.

A propulsion system includes multiple solid rocket motors that are activated by a single initiator. The rocket motors act in parallel, providing thrust in a single direction. The initiator activates an ignition charge that is in or operatively coupled to a non-annular plenum that transports hot gasses from the ignition charge to the rockets to be ignited. The plenum may be an unchoked plenum, allowing flow of hot gasses without choking. The plenum may be lined with an insulator material. A cover may be used to cover the plenum, and also to receive the rocket motors. The rocket motors may be solid-fuel rocket motors, with propellant grains and nozzles. The individual rocket motors may have separate ignition booster charges coupled to the plenum, which are ignited by the ignition charge and which in turn ignite the propellant grains.

A propulsion system includes multiple solid rocket motors that are activated by a single initiator. The rocket motors act in parallel, providing thrust in a single direction. The initiator activates an ignition charge that is in or operatively coupled to a non-annular plenum that transports hot gasses from the ignition charge to the rockets to be ignited. The plenum may be an unchoked plenum, allowing flow of hot gasses without choking. The plenum may be lined with an insulator material. A cover may be used to cover the plenum, and also to receive the rocket motors. The rocket motors may be solid-fuel rocket motors, with propellant grains and nozzles. The individual rocket motors may have separate ignition booster charges coupled to the plenum, which are ignited by the ignition charge and which in turn ignite the propellant grains.

A propulsion system includes multiple solid rocket motors that are activated by a single initiator. The rocket motors act in parallel, providing thrust in a single direction. The initiator activates an ignition charge that is in or operatively coupled to a non-annular plenum that transports hot gasses from the ignition charge to the rockets to be ignited. The plenum may be an unchoked plenum, allowing flow of hot gasses without choking. The plenum may be lined with an insulator material. A cover may be used to cover the plenum, and also to receive the rocket motors. The rocket motors may be solid-fuel rocket motors, with propellant grains and nozzles. The individual rocket motors may have separate ignition booster charges coupled to the plenum, which are ignited by the ignition charge and which in turn ignite the propellant grains.

A propulsion system includes multiple solid rocket motors that are activated by a single initiator. The rocket motors act in parallel, providing thrust in a single direction. The initiator activates an ignition charge that is in or operatively coupled to a non-annular plenum that transports hot gasses from the ignition charge to the rockets to be ignited. The plenum may be an unchoked plenum, allowing flow of hot gasses without choking. The plenum may be lined with an insulator material. A cover may be used to cover the plenum, and also to receive the rocket motors. The rocket motors may be solid-fuel rocket motors, with propellant grains and nozzles. The individual rocket motors may have separate ignition booster charges coupled to the plenum, which are ignited by the ignition charge and which in turn ignite the propellant grains.

A nozzle (1) for a space vehicle engine (M), the nozzle comprising a stationary portion (2) and a movable portion (3), the nozzle (1) including a pneumatic deployment system (4) comprising: a deployment actuator (5) for deploying the movable portion (3) of the nozzle (1); a high unlocking actuator (6); a low unlocking actuator (7); and an ejector (41); the deployment system (4) including a feed system (8) configured so as to, sequentially: move the deployment actuator (5) from its support position towards its deployment position; move the high and low unlocking actuators (6, 7) into their high and low unlocking positions; and actuate the ejector so as to eject the deployment system (4) from the nozzle (1).

A nozzle (1) for a space vehicle engine (M), the nozzle comprising a stationary portion (2) and a movable portion (3), the nozzle (1) including a pneumatic deployment system (4) comprising: a deployment actuator (5) for deploying the movable portion (3) of the nozzle (1); a high unlocking actuator (6); a low unlocking actuator (7); and an ejector (41); the deployment system (4) including a feed system (8) configured so as to, sequentially: move the deployment actuator (5) from its support position towards its deployment position; move the high and low unlocking actuators (6, 7) into their high and low unlocking positions; and actuate the ejector so as to eject the deployment system (4) from the nozzle (1).