Spaceflight
“Spaceflight (also written space flight) is the act of travelling into or through outer space. Spaceflight can occur with spacecraft which may, or may not, have humans on board. Examples of human spaceflight include the Russian Soyuz program, the U.S. Space shuttle program, as well as the ongoing International Space Station. Examples of unmanned spaceflight include space probes which leave Earth’s orbit, as well as satellites in orbit around Earth, such as communication satellite.” (Wikipedia, Spaceflight, 2/22/2011)
Recent US Patents
10/26/2010
7,820,285
Rocket motor insulation
Pittman et al of the US Air Force has developed a solid rocket motor (SRM) insulation consisting of carbon nano fibers (CNF) in a polyurethane matrix. The so blended material is then extruded, injection molded or sprayed on or into the desired shape. Such SRM insulation has reduced ablation over present insulations, resulting in reduction in insulation weight permitting increased of payload. (RDC 2/17/2011)