The Rockot KM launch vehicle equipped with the Breeze KM upper stage and commercial payload fairing is operational. It has completed six successful missions since its launch debut in 2000. To address the market for heavier and larger size spacecraft beyond the present capabilities of the current Rockot KM launch vehicle, preliminary design of an upgraded higher performance vehicle, Rockot KS incorporating the Breeze KS upper stage and an enlarged fairing, has been completed. The Rockot KS is a mass optimized version of the Rockot KM. First and second stages are identical to previous Rockot versions. The upper stage Breeze retains an identical propulsion compartment and engines as previous versions. Mass saving is achieved by structural improvements to the Breeze upper stage and through the use of modern electronics in the equipment bay. Without any impact to the proven reliability of the Rockot KM launcher, the preliminary design includes: 1. increase of the payload performance close to 2 metric tonnes for a 620 km sun synchronous orbit (SSO); 2. a 10% enlargement of the payload fairing diameter to accommodate payloads of up to 2.7 m diameter. The paper describes the design changes in the upper stage Breeze, payload fairing, interstage ring and avionics. The effects of the changes of the proposed upgrade will also be shown and assessed.
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