US Patent Issued to Trans Astronautica on Nov. 11 for "Omnivorous solar thermal thruster, cooling systems, and thermal energy transfer in rockets" (California, Tennessee, Arizona Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 11 -- United States Patent no. 12,467,421, issued on Nov. 11, was assigned to Trans Astronautica Corp. (Lake View Terrace, Calif.).

"Omnivorous solar thermal thruster, cooling systems, and thermal energy transfer in rockets" was invented by Joel C. Sercel (Lake View Terrace, Calif.), Philip J. Wahl (Altadena, Calif.), Conrad T. Jensen (Altadena, Calif.), James G. Small (Sonoita, Ariz.), Benjamin G. Workinger (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Samuel Daugherty-Saunders (Claremont, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Omnivorous solar thermal thrusters and adjustable cooling structures are disclosed. In one aspect, a solar thermal rocket engine includes a solar thermal thruster con...