METHOD OF RECOVERY OF RECOVERABLE LAUNCH VEHICLES AND DEVICE FOR REALIZATION OF THIS METHOD Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: rocketry and space engineering; manufacture of launch vehicles for injection of payloads into low- altitude near-earth orbits; servicing international space station. SUBSTANCE: upon return to Earth, recoverable modules are again filled with propellant and are used for subsequent injection of payloads into space. At descent, launch vehicle modules of initial pack cluster are transformed into axisymmetrical ( tandem ) cluster with modules secured to each other by their bottoms. Such configuration of launch vehicle corresponds to maximum ballistic parameter. Near-circular velocity of launch vehicle is smoothly decreased through orientation of longitudinal axis of cluster perpendicularly to velocity vector to free fall velocity vector. Then, modules are again transformed to pack cluster which performs vertical landing at soft touchdown. Device proposed for realization of this method is made in form of articulation locking mechanism with pyro element. Proposed method may be used for orbital aircraft (such as Space Shuttle). EFFECT: extended functional capabilities. 3 cl, 5 dwg