CASE OF SPACECRAFT DESCENDING IN PLANET ATMOSPHERE Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC B64G1/62 B64G1/22 

FIELD: aerodynamics of descent vehicles with load-bearing case of average aerodynamic efficiency.

SUBSTANCE: proposed spacecraft case includes heat-insulated blunted nose section and upper, lower and bottom protection shields engageable with it. Load-bearing lower part is made in form of spherical segment engageable with upper part which is made in form of body of revolution consisting of front and cylindrical tail members of case which are engageable in succession. These members are formed by two longitudinal planes intersecting along axis of symmetry of case; these planes are symmetrical relative to plane of symmetry of spacecraft at angle relative to this plane. Generatrix of front member of upper part of case consists of one or more curvilinear sections described by smooth function monotonically increasing towards tail member and having no bend points. These sections may have form of arcs of circle or part of parabola.

EFFECT: monotonic change in pressure over surface of case; enhanced aerodynamic efficiency; improved operating and maneuverable characteristics.

3 cl, 8 dwg