US 12,325,536 B2
Spacecraft provided with low and high thrust propulsion system
Angelo Minotti, Segni (IT)
Assigned to MIPRONS SRL, Segni (IT)
Appl. No. 18/254,811
Filed by MIPRONS SRL, Segni (IT)
PCT Filed Dec. 1, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/061166
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 26, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/118208, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 9, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000030011 (IT), filed on Dec. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0002073 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B64G 1/40 (2006.01); F02K 9/42 (2006.01); F02K 9/60 (2006.01); F02K 9/62 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/4021 (2023.08) [B64G 1/401 (2013.01); B64G 1/402 (2013.01); F02K 9/425 (2013.01); F02K 9/605 (2013.01); F02K 9/62 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spacecraft comprising:
at least one water reservoir containing liquid water, a first thrust propulsion part and a second thrust propulsion part, wherein:
the first thrust propulsion part provides at least five times the thrust of the second propulsion part;
the first thrust propulsion part comprises at least one first thruster each comprising:
a regulating valve that receives the liquid water from the at least one water reservoir a water splitting device that splits the liquid water into gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen;
a combustion chamber in which the gaseous hydrogen reacts with the gaseous oxygen; and an exhaust nozzle coupled to an output of the combustion chamber; and
the second thrust propulsion part comprises:
a liquid water supply line that receives liquid water from the at least one water reservoir; and
a plurality of branches, each coupled to the liquid water supply line and each comprising:
a regulating valve that receives the liquid water from the liquid water supply line;
a vaporization chamber downstream of the regulating valve; and
an expansion nozzle downstream of the vaporization chamber.