Annotation: The scientific and methodological propositions for the designing single-stage guided missiles with the solid rocket motors for advanced multiple launch rocket systems are defined. The guided missiles of multiple launch rocket system are intended for delivering munitions to the given spatial point with required and specified kinematic motion parameters at the end of flight. The aim of the article is an analysis of the development trends of the guided missiles with the solid rocket motors for the multiple launch rocket systems, identifying the characteristics and requirements for the flight trajectories, design parameters, control programs, overall dimensions and mass characteristics, structural layout and aerodynamic schemes of missiles. The formalization of the complex task to optimize design parameters, trajectory parameters and motion control programs for the guided missiles capable of flying along the ballistic, aeroballistic or combined trajectories is given. The complex task belongs to a problem of the optimal control theory with limitations in form of equa lity, inequality and differential constraints. To simplify the problem, an approach to program forming is proposed for motion control in the form of polynomial that brings the problem of the optimal control theory to a simpler problem of nonlinear mathematical programming. When trajectory parameters were calculated the missile was regarded as a material point of variable mass and the combined equations for center-of-mass motion of the guided missile with projections on axes of the terrestrial reference system were used. The structure of the mathematical model was given along with the calculation sequence of the criterion function that was used for determination of the optimal parameters, programs and characteristics. The mathematical model of the guided missile provides adequate accuracy for design study to determine depending on the main design parameters: overall dimensions and mass characteristics of the guided missile in general and its structural comp onents and subsystems; power, thrust and consumption characteristics of the rocket motor; aerodynamic and ballistic characteristics of the guided missile. The developed methodology was tested by determining design and trajectory parameters, overall dimensions and mass characteristics, power and ballistic characteristics of two guided missiles with wings for advanced multiple launch rocket systems produced by the People’s Republic of China, using the limited amount of information available in the product catalog.

Annotation: Separation of the spent LV stages is one of the important problems of the rocket technology, which requires the comprehensive analysis of different types of systems, evaluation of their parameters and structural layouts. Basic requirements are specified that need to be taken into account when engineering the separation system: reliable and safe separation, minimal losses in payload capability, keeping sufficient distance between the stages at the moment of the propulsion system start. Detailed classification of their types («cold», «warm», «hot», «cold-launched» separation) is given and their technical substance with advantages and drawbacks is described. Certain types of «cold» and «warm» separation of the spent stages of such rockets as Dnepr, Zenit, Antares, Falcon-9 with different operating principle are introduced – braking with the spent stage and pushing apart two stages. Brief characteristics of these systems are given, based on the gas-reactive nozzle thrust, braking with solid-propellant rocket engines, separating with spring or pneumatic pushers. Development of the separation system for the advanced Cyclone-4M ILV is taken as an example and design sequence of stage separation is suggested: determination of the necessary separation velocity and capability of the separation units, determination of the number of active units, calculation of design and energy parameters of the separation units, analysis of the obtained results followed by the selection of the separation system. Use of empirical dependences is shown, based on the great scope of experimental and theoretical activities in the process of design, functional testing and flight operation of similar systems in such rockets as Cyclone, Dnepr and Zenit. According to the comparative analysis results, pneumatic separation system to separate Cyclone-4M Stages 1 and 2 was selected as the most effective one. Its basic characteristics, composition, overall view and configuration are specified. Stated materials are of methodological nature and can be used to engineer the separation systems for LV stages, payload fairings, spacecraft etc.

Annotation: Despite stringent environmental requirements, modern launch vehicles/integrated launch vehicles (LV/ILV) burn toxic propellants such as NTO and UDMH. Typically, such propellants are used in the LV/ILV upper stages, where a small amount of propellant is contained; however, some LV/ILV still use such fuel in all sustainer propulsion stages. For launch vehicles containing toxic rocket propellants, flight accidents may result in the failed launch vehicle falling to the Earth’s surface, forming large zones of chemical damage to people (the zones may exceed blast and fire zones). This is typical for accidents occurring in the first stage flight segment, when an intact launch vehicle or its components (usually individual stages) with rocket propellants will reach the Earth’s surface. An explosion and fire following such an impact will most likely lead to a massive release of toxicant and contamination of the surface air. An accident during the flight segment of the LV/ILV first stage with toxic rocket propellants, equipped with a flight termination system that implements emergency engine shutdown in case of detection of an emergency situation, has been considered. To assess the risk of toxic damage to a person located at a certain point, it is necessary to mathematically describe the zone within which a potential impact of the failed LV/ILV will entail toxic damage to the person (the so-called zone of dangerous impact of the failed LV/ILV). The complexity of this lies in the need to take into account the characteristics of the atmosphere, primarily the wind. Using the zone of toxic damage to people during the fall of the failed launch vehicle, which is proposed to be represented by a combination of two figures: a semicircle and a half-ellipse, the corresponding zone of dangerous impact of the failed LV/ILV is constructed. Taking into account the difficulties of writing the analytical expressions for these figures during the transition to the launch coordinate system and further integration when identifying the risk, in practical calculations we propose to approximate the zone of dangerous impact of the failed LV/ILV using a polygon. This allows using a known procedure to identify risks. A generalization of the developed model for identifying the risk of toxic damage to people involves taking into account various types of critical failures that can lead to the fall of the failed LV/ILV, and blocking emergency engine shutdown during the initial flight phase. A zone dangerous for people was constructed using the proposed model for the case of the failure of the Dnepr launch vehicle, where the risks of toxic damage exceed the permissible level (10–6). The resulting danger zone significantly exceeds the danger zone caused by the damaging effect of the blast wave. Directions for further improvement of the model are shown, related to taking into account the real distribution of the toxicant in the atmosphere and a person’s exposure to a certain toxic dose.

Annotation: The article deals with the problems of applying new approaches to formation and improvement of operation system. Turning of space hardware and services into marketable commodity requires their new qualities that determine competitiveness. The main task of presented works was approbation of new approaches to improvement of space launch systems operation quality and operation process effectiveness by the example of prospective Cyclone-4M space rocket complex. The works to form and improve its operation system were performed using the methods based on general theory of space systems operation and the pocedures based on the results of research work conducted by Yuzhnoye SDO in 2015 for analytical evaluation of launch services costs. The topicality of the article is confirmed by the results of practical application of new approaches in main directions of Cyclone-4M space rocket complex operation system improvement, which allowed increasing commercial attractibility of Yuzhnoye SDO-developed systems due to reduction of direct recurring costs and annual expenses. The article describes the course of development of operation model of a created object; based on investigation of the processes of this model, the object’s performance characteristics are detemined. The basis of the article are the organizational-and-technical decisions used herewith and the results obtained for Cyclone-4M space rocket complex. The article is of practical interest for specialists involved in creation of space rocket complexes and other sophisticated systems where the operation system is a multi-level organizational-technical system.

Annotation: The article presents the main results obtained when solving the standardization tasks in Yuzhnoye SDO practice. The specific ways are presented of reducing the periods of work performance and increasing the accuracy of results due to the use of automated methods. The article also presents the recommendations in respect of sequence and methods of creating the standard data arrays, which allows optimizing the work process performance.

Annotation: A series of materials is proposed for creation of space launch vehicle low-pressure air thermostating systems joints hoses. The topical issues are considered of materials designing with consideration for specific features of the hoses as special industrial rubber articles of launch vehicle launch sites.

Annotation: A developed, patented and proven method of producing supercooled cryogenic medium, required for testing for functional demonstration of space rocket automatic units and systems, is described herein.

Annotation: The paper is about the ground tests to refine the action dynamics of dividing valve operating in liquid oxygen environment.

Annotation: To support ignition of Taurus LV first stage core structure engine, an oxidizer dividing valve has been developed that ensures minimal hydraulic resistance, opening time and hydraulic impact. The paper considers the valve design, main phases of its ground development testing and basic critical comments on the design made in the process of manufacturing and testing.

Annotation: The calculation procedure is proposed, the analysis is made and the ranges of optimal probability values of no-failure operation of pneumohydraulic propellant supply system and its elements are determined based on general requirements to integrated launch vehicle.