Patent ID: 11933249
Assignee: BLUE ORIGIN, LLC
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 12:
13. A method of using an upper stage rocket, the method comprising:
launching a multi-stage space vehicle from earth, the space vehicle comprising:
a lower stage configured to lift the space vehicle off ground; and
a reusable upper stage configured to separate from the lower stage and to land vertically, the upper stage comprising:
a rocket body extending from a forward end to an aft end and defining a longitudinal axis;
a heat shield at the aft end of the rocket body, the heat shield comprising a semi-spherical surface configured to cap the aft end of the rocket body and dissipate heat encountered upon reentry of the upper stage into the atmosphere, the heat shield comprising:
a plurality of scarfed nozzles embedded radially around the semi-spherical surface of the heat shield, wherein inboard surfaces of the plurality of scarfed nozzles collectively define an aerospike contour; and

an aerospike engine located at the aft end of the rocket body, the aerospike engine comprising:
at least one powerpack configured to pump propellant at high pressure to a plurality of thruster modules,
wherein each thruster module of the plurality of thruster modules is inset into a respective scarfed nozzle of the plurality of scarfed nozzles of the heat shield, the plurality of thruster modules configured to eject exhaust along the aerospike contour collectively defined by inboard surfaces of the plurality of scarfed nozzles.