MULTISTAGE LAUNCH VEHICLE Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: rocketry and space engineering; designing launch vehicles for injection of various payloads into near-earth orbit. SUBSTANCE: multistage launch vehicle has rocket pods of first and second stages connected by parallel pattern. Additional propellant tank connected to propellant compartment of rocket pod of second stage of launch vehicle through main fitted with cut-off valve which is separated in flight is located coaxially relative to first stage. Additional propellant tank is also connected with inter-pod adapter compartment. Rocket pods of first and second stage are connected by means of load-bearing connection units located on their lateral surfaces. EFFECT: increased relative mass of payload and improved operational parameters of multistage launch vehicle. 3 dwg