Rocket thruster nozzle with connectors and brace

1. A thruster nozzle comprising:

a throat; and

a nozzle end portion that is integral with the throat, the nozzle end portion including an outer wall having a plurality of circumferentially-disposed nozzle features, the circumferentially-disposed nozzle features being positioned at a first axial end of the nozzle end portion, the first axial end being opposite a second axial end of the nozzle end portion, and the second axial end of the nozzle portion being adjacent the throat; and

wherein the nozzle features are configured to be received in corresponding brace features, and each combination of nozzle features and brace features forms a compliant joint,

wherein the compliant joint permitting relative axial movement between the nozzle end portion and the brace and stopping relative off-axial movement between the nozzle end portion and the brace.

2. The thruster nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle features protrude from the outer wall.

3. The thruster nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle features are located at a common axial position along the outer wall.

4. The thruster nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle features are located at staggered axial positions along the outer wall.

5. The thruster nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the nozzle features are axially offset from an axial edge of the nozzle end portion.

6. The thruster nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle end portion flares from the throat.

7. The thruster nozzle as recited in claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a catalyst bed, an injector, or a combustion chamber attached with the throat opposite of the nozzle end portion.

8. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a thruster nozzle including:

a wall having a plurality of circumferentially-disposed features, each of the circumferentially-disposed features being disposed at first axial end of the thrust nozzle, the first axial end of the thrust nozzle being opposite a second axial end of the thruster nozzle and the second axial end of the thruster nozzle being adjacent a throat;

a brace attached with the vehicle body and disposed at least partially around the thruster nozzle, the brace having brace features corresponding with the features of the thruster nozzle; and

wherein the brace features are brace connectors, and each of the brace connectors is mated in a respective compliant joint with one of the nozzle features,

wherein the compliant joint permitting relative axial movement between a nozzle end portion and the brace and stopping relative off-axial movement between the nozzle end portion and the brace.

9. The vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein the brace features mate with the features of the thruster nozzle.

10. The vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein the brace features are connectors, and each of the connectors of the brace are mated in a respective tongue-and-groove joint with a corresponding one of the features of the thruster nozzle.

11. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the tongue-and-groove joint includes a tongue that has a tip, a groove that has a bottom, and a thermal expansion gap between the tip and the bottom.

12. The vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein the nozzle features are located at a common axial position along the outer wall.

13. The vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein the nozzle features are located at staggered axial positions along the outer wall.

14. The vehicle as recited in claim 8 , wherein one or more of the nozzle features are axially offset from an axial edge of a nozzle end portion.