SPACECRAFT AFTERBODY DEVICE, SPACECRAFT, AND METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spacecraft afterbody device particularly designed to reduce the aerodynamic drag of a spacecraft during an atmospheric flight phase.SOLUTION: A spacecraft afterbody device provided with at least one rocket motor 2 at the rear of the craft comprises at least one of manoeuvrable cowl elements 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, suitable for taking a first position, for masking and for reducing the rear drag of the craft, where it prolongs the fuselage of the craft around at least a part of a nozzle 4 of the rocket motor of the craft and extends beyond the rear of the fuselage of the craft, and for taking a fully deployed second position for increasing the aerodynamic drag of the craft.