This dataset identifies 224 published records filed or published between 2015 and mid-2026 that combine staged combustion cycle language with operational terms such as turbopump power balance and chamber pressure ramp. That figure reflects one search scope and search string, not every patent that touches rocket propulsion; a broader or narrower query would return a different count. Because publication lags filing by roughly 18 months, the 2025-2026 counts within this window are still incomplete and will rise as more applications publish.

The ranking covers 84 assignees, and the leading one holds 22 of the 224 records in scope, with the fifth-ranked holder at 11. That is a meaningful lead but not a monopoly: the top five combined hold 36.6% of all records, leaving nearly two-thirds spread across a long tail of smaller filers. Anyone assessing freedom to operate should look at the ranked leaders’ claim scope directly rather than assume concentration equals blocking coverage.

Filings grew 57% from 2021 (7 filings) to 2024 (11 filings), after peaking at 23 filings in 2022. The apparent decline after 2022 should be read cautiously: 2024 is the most recent year in this dataset that can be treated as a complete filing year, and 2025-2026 figures are still filling in due to the normal 18-month gap between filing and publication. On the evidence available, the field shows sustained rather than slowing activity through its last complete year.