Nozzle of a spacecraft engine, comprising a nozzle body extending along a main direction, from a proximal end secured to the engine of the spacecraft, and a free distal end, said nozzle body having a plurality of stiffeners extending from an outer surface of the nozzle body, radially with respect to the main direction, said nozzle comprising a thermal insulation system, comprising at least one strip of insulating material disposed so as to surround the outer surface of the nozzle body over at least part of the height of said nozzle body-, said thermal insulation system comprising a plurality of holding elements, each holding element being positioned so as to surround said strips of insulating material, and being disposed between two stiffeners of the nozzle body.

An annular ablative gas blocking device provides for automatic altitude compensation of a rocket engine exhaust plume. The nozzle is over expanded at low level launch altitudes and near optimally expanded at the highest altitude at the terminal burnout or staging altitude of the rocket engine. The ablative gas blocking device in the nozzle exit mitigates low altitude launch effects of an over expanded nozzle and inhibits external atmospheric air entrance into the nozzle at launch. The gas blocking means ablatively erodes away from plume impingement as the rocket ascends in a pre-programmed manner to achieve optimum area expansion ratio at all altitudes.

A preceramic resin formulation comprising a polycarbosilane preceramic polymer and an organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer. A ceramic material comprising a reaction product of the polycarbosilane preceramic polymer and organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer is also described. Articles comprising the ceramic material are also described, as are methods of forming the preceramic resin formulation and the ceramic material.

A barrier coating resin formulation comprising at least one polycarbosilane preceramic polymer, at least one organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer, at least one filler, and at least one solvent. A barrier coating comprising a reaction product of the at least one polycarbosilane preceramic polymer and the at least one organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer and the at least one filler is also disclosed, as are articles comprising the barrier coating, rocket motors comprising the barrier coating, and methods of forming the articles.

A metal encapsulated ceramic tile thermal insulation system for rockets and associated methods is disclosed. A representative system includes a launch vehicle having a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end and includes a heat shield positioned at the second end. The heat shield includes a plurality of thermal protection apparatuses, where individual of the thermal protection apparatuses include ceramic tiles encapsulated by inner and outer metal layers, which are positioned on opposing top and bottom surfaces of the ceramic tiles. The plurality of thermal protection apparatuses includes a plurality of pins positioned within corresponding holes drilled through the ceramic tiles and are secured to the metal layers. The outer metal layer can protect the ceramic tile from tool strikes and debris and can also prevent water from reaching and being absorbed by the ceramic tile.

A combustion chamber including a diverging portion. The combustion chamber extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a fluid injection system from which there extends in a downstream direction a wall presenting a throat and a diverging portion situated downstream from the throat. The chamber further includes a tubular element surrounding the wall at least in part and configured to take up most of forces generated during operation of the chamber on the downstream end of the wall to transfer the forces to a structure situated upstream from the chamber.

A metal encapsulated ceramic tile thermal insulation system for rockets and associated methods is disclosed. A representative system includes a launch vehicle having a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end and includes a heat shield positioned at the second end. The heat shield includes a plurality of thermal protection apparatuses, where individual of the thermal protection apparatuses include ceramic tiles encapsulated by inner and outer metal layers, which are positioned on opposing top and bottom surfaces of the ceramic tiles. The plurality of thermal protection apparatuses includes a plurality of pins positioned within corresponding holes drilled through the ceramic tiles and are secured to the metal layers. The outer metal layer can protect the ceramic tile from tool strikes and debris and can also prevent water from reaching and being absorbed by the ceramic tile.

A high temperature thermal protection systems for rockets, and associated methods, is disclosed. A representative system includes a launch vehicle having a first end and a second end generally opposite the first end. The launch vehicle is elongated along a vehicle axis extending between the first and second ends and carries a propulsion system having at least one nozzle positioned at the second end of the launch vehicle. A thermal protection apparatus positioned around the nozzle is used to provide cooling and/or insulation to the nozzle during the flight of the launch vehicle. The thermal protection apparatus can include multiple fabric layers and an insulation layer stacked and stitched together. The fabric layers can include metal alloy fibers. In representative systems, the thermal protection apparatus can further include provisions for water that saturates the insulation layer to provide further insulating and/or cooling effects.

A preceramic resin formulation comprising a polycarbosilane preceramic polymer, an organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer, and, optionally, at least one filler. The preceramic resin formulation is formulated to exhibit a viscosity of from about 1,000 cP at about 25° C. to about 5,000 cP at a temperature of about 25° C. The at least one filler comprises first particles having an average mean diameter of less than about 1.0 μm and second particles having an average mean diameter of from about 1.5 μm to about 5 μm. Impregnated fibers comprising the preceramic resin formulation are also disclosed, as is a composite material comprising a reaction product of the polycarbosilane preceramic polymer, organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer, and the at least one filler. Methods of forming a ceramic matrix composite are also disclosed.

Nozzle of a spacecraft engine, comprising a nozzle body extending along a main direction, from a proximal end secured to the engine of the spacecraft, and a free distal end, said nozzle body having a plurality of stiffeners extending from an outer surface of the nozzle body, radially with respect to the main direction, said nozzle comprising a thermal insulation system, comprising at least one strip of insulating material disposed so as to surround the outer surface of the nozzle body over at least part of the height of said nozzle body, said thermal insulation system comprising a plurality of holding elements, each holding element being positioned so as to surround said strips of insulating material, and being disposed between two stiffeners of the nozzle body.