Solar-thermal drive unit for rocket propulsion system has hollow chamber body and heating channel system

摘要

The drive unit has a hollow chamber body (4) with an aperture (16) to receive solar radiation (12) and an inner chamber wall (14) to convert it into the thermal energy. The heating channel system (30) acts with the hollow chamber body to heat the propulsion gas. The system includes at least one heating channel (13) which runs spirally around the longitudinal axis (17) of the body.