SPACE VEHICLE FOR DESCENT IN ATMOSPHERE OF PLANET AND METHOD OF DESCENT OF SPACE VEHICLE IN ATMOSPHERE OF PLANET Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: rocketry and space engineering. SUBSTANCE: space vehicle has heat-insulated load-bearing case with blunted nose portion, bottom shield, gas-dynamic flight control devices for control of flight at atmospheric section of trajectory, payload unit and landing complex. Case consists of upper and lower parts directed to flow and provided with shield; case is provided with aft flap; lower part of case and flap are made in form of members of spherical segment engageable with blunted nose part of vehicle; bottom shield is also spherical; split flap is articulated for control of vehicle by pitching and rolling channels. Descent of space vehicle includes orientation and braking of vehicle before atmosphere entry, stabilization of it in atmosphere by pitching, yawing and rolling channels and placing landing devices in operation. At speeds ranging from hypersonic to supersonic, flap is deflected in pitching and rolling plane through programmed angles at simultaneous stabilization of space vehicle at trimming angle of attack by means of gas-dynamic control devices. Invention makes it possible to perform manoeuvre of space vehicle having mass of up to 15 tons through lateral range of up to 1000 km. Maximum probable packaging density of interior volume with payload is retained at this. EFFECT: enhanced reliability. 3 cl, 7 dwg