LAUNCH VEHICLE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: space engineering; transport space systems. SUBSTANCE: launch vehicle is made according to cluster configuration: central pod of second stage and four lateral pods of first stage. Upper parts of lateral pods are engageable with load-bearing band of second stage pod. Third stage and payload are located in succession above this pod. Ratio of volume of propellant tanks of second stage to volume of similar tanks of first stage ranges from 0.895 to 0.989. Load- bearing band and part of pod of second stage located above it have cylindrical form. Ratio of their diameter to diameter of lower cylindrical part of pod ranges from 1.273 to 1.371. In tail section of cluster, pods are connected by means of four hard points and rods. Hard points are located on second stage pod between first stage pods. EFFECT: enhanced reliability; increased mass of payload at minimum modification (for spacecraft VOSKHOD and SOYUZ). 2 cl, 3 dwg