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Rocket turbopump valves and associated system and methods. A valve in accordance with at least one embodiment includes a housing having a valve aperture, and first and second valve elements positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open pos

Rocket turbopump valves and associated system and methods. A valve in accordance with at least one embodiment includes a housing having a valve aperture, and first and second valve elements positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position. Each valve element can be pivotably connected to the housing toward a first end and supported by the other valve element toward a second end. A drive mechanism is coupled to the first and second valve elements to pivot the valve elements toward and away from their open and closed positions.

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1. A rocket valve system, comprising: a housing having a valve aperture;a first valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position;a second valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture betwee

1. A rocket valve system, comprising: a housing having a valve aperture;a first valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position;a second valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position, wherein each valve lid includes a protrusion toward a first end and a gap toward a second end, wherein the protrusion of the first valve lid is movably supported in the gap of the second valve lid and movably receives a first drive pin, and wherein the protrusion of the second valve lid is movably supported in the gap of the first valve lid and movably receives a second drive pin; andan actuator operably coupled to the first and second valve lids, wherein operation of the actuator in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their open positions to open the valve aperture, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions to close the valve aperture. 2. A rocket valve system, comprising: a housing having a valve aperture;a first valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position;a second valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first valve lid includes a first close stop surface and the second valve lid includes a second close stop surface, and wherein the first close stop surface defines a first S curve and the second close stop surface defines a complimentary second S curve that mates with the first S curve when the first and second valve lids are in their closed positions; andan actuator operably coupled to the first and second valve lids, wherein operation of the actuator in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their open positions to open the valve aperture, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions to close the valve aperture, wherein the first and second valve lids are the only valve lids in the housing, and wherein the first and second valve lids are selected to operate at pressures up to 1000 psi. 3. The valve system of claim 1 wherein the first valve lid includes a first close stop surface and the second valve lid includes a second close stop surface, and wherein the first and second close stop surfaces mate with each other when the first and second valve lids are in their closed positions. 4. The valve system of claim 3 wherein the first close stop surface defines a first curved surface and the second close stop surface defines a complimentary second curved surface that fits against the first curved surface when the first and second valve lids are in their closed positions. 5. The valve system of claim 3 wherein the first close stop surface defines a first S curve and the second close stop surface defines a complimentary second S curve that mates with the first S curve when the first and second valve lids are in their closed positions. 6. The valve system of claim 1, further comprising: a first pivot pin pivotally connecting the first valve lid to the housing; anda second pivot pin pivotally connecting the second valve lid to the housing, wherein operation of the actuator in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids about the first and second pivot pins, respectively, toward their open positions to open the valve aperture, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the first and second valve lids about the first and second pivot pins, respectively, toward their closed positions to close the valve aperture. 7. A rocket valve system, comprising: a housing having a valve aperture;a first valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first valve lid has a first upstream surface and a first downstream surface, defined by a first flange and a second flange, respectively, and a first gap between the first upstream surface and the first downstream surface;a second valve lid positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position, wherein the second valve lid has a second upstream surface and a second downstream surface, defined by a third flange and a fourth flange, respectively, and a second gap between the second upstream surface and the second downstream surface, wherein a first protrusion of the first valve lid is movably received in the second gap of the second valve lid, and wherein a second protrusion of the second valve lid is movably received in the first gap of the first valve lid; andan actuator operably coupled to the first and second valve lids, wherein operation of the actuator in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their open positions to open the valve aperture, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions to close the valve aperture. 8. The valve system of claim 7, further comprising: a pair of first pivot pins, each pivotally connecting a respective one of the first or second flanges of the first valve lid to the housing; anda pair of second pivot pins, each pivotally connecting a respective one of the third or fourth flanges of the second valve lid to the housing, wherein operation of the actuator in a first direction pivots the first valve lid about the pair of first pivot pins and the second valve lid about the pair of second pivot pins toward their open positions to open the valve aperture, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the first valve lid about the pair of first pivot pins and the second valve lid about the pair of second pivot pins toward their closed positions to close the valve aperture. 9. The valve system of claim 1, further comprising: a drive ring rotatably received in the housing and pivotally coupled to the first and second valve lids, wherein rotation of the drive ring in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions, and rotation of the drive ring in a second direction opposite the first pivots the first and second valve lids toward their open positions. 10. The valve system of claim 7: wherein the first protrusion includes a first slot;wherein the second protrusion includes a second slot, andwherein the valve system further comprises a drive ring rotatably received in the housing and having a first drive pin received in the slot of the first valve lid, and a second drive pin received in the slot of the second valve lid, wherein rotation of the drive ring via the actuator in a first direction moves the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions, and wherein rotation of the drive ring via the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction moves the first and second valve lids toward their open positions. 11. The valve system of claim 7: wherein the housing has a first housing unit connected to a second housing unit;wherein the first protrusion includes a radially outwardly extending first tab having a first slot;wherein the second protrusion includes a radially outwardly extending second tab having a second slot;andwherein the valve system further comprises:a pair of first pivot pins, each connecting one flange of the respective first and second valve lids to the first housing unit;a pair of second pivot pins, each connecting the other flange of the respective first and second valve lids to the second housing unit;a drive ring received in the housing and having a first drive pin received in the first slot of the first valve lid, and a second drive pin received in the second slot of the second valve lid;a ring gear connected to the drive ring;a pinion meshed with the ring gear, wherein the actuator is operably coupled to the pinion to rotate the drive ring via the ring gear, wherein rotation of the drive ring in a first direction moves the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions, and rotation of the drive ring in a second direction opposite the first moves the first and second valve lids toward their open positions. 12. A rocket valve system, comprising: a housing having a valve aperture;first and second valve elements positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position, each valve element being pivotably connected to the housing toward a first end and supported by the other valve element toward a second end, wherein each valve element includes an upstream surface, a downstream surface, a protrusion toward the first end and a gap toward the second end, wherein the upstream surface is defined by a first flange, the downstream surface is defined by a second flange, and the gap is between the upstream surface and the downstream surface, wherein the protrusion of the first valve element is movably supported in the gap of the second valve element, and wherein the protrusion of the second valve element is movably supported in the gap of the first valve element;andpins for pivoting the valve elements toward and away from their open and closed positions. 13. The valve system of claim 12 wherein the first valve element includes a first close stop surface and the second valve element includes a second close stop surface, wherein the first and second close stop surfaces mate with each other when the first and second valve elements are in their closed positions, and wherein the first and second close stop surfaces move toward and away from each other to provide exclusive control of the size of the valve aperture. 14. The valve system of example 12 wherein the housing includes a first housing unit connected to a second housing unit, and wherein the valve system further comprises: a combustion source;a first conduit connected between the combustion source and the first housing unit;a turbopump coupled to at least one of a fuel supply and an oxidizer supply for a rocket engine, the turbopump including a gas turbine; anda second conduit connected between the gas turbine and the second housing unit, wherein the pins control the flow of fluid from the combustion source to the gas turbine by pivoting the valve elements toward and away from their open and closed positions. 15. The valve system of claim 2, further comprising: a drive ring rotatably received in the housing and pivotally coupled to the first and second valve lids, wherein rotation of the drive ring in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids toward their closed positions, and rotation of the drive ring in a second direction opposite the first pivots the first and second valve lids toward their open positions. 16. The valve system of claim 2, further comprising: a first pivot pin pivotally connecting the first valve lid to the housing; anda second pivot pin pivotally connecting the second valve lid to the housing, wherein operation of the actuator in a first direction pivots the first and second valve lids about the first and second pivot pins, respectively, toward their open positions to open the valve aperture, and wherein operation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the first and second valve lids about the first and second pivot pins, respectively, toward their closed positions to close the valve aperture.