The nose

Caption:
1-Nasal shield; 2-Strengthening piece; 3-propulsion module BDOU-N (not shown); 4-Higher parts of the strengthening pieces; 5-trap doors for damages; 6-7:Support of the port-holes; 8-Strengthening piece; 9-Protection panels of the higher section; 10-Beam; 11-Entry trap door; 12-Lower part of the veins; 13-trap door; 14-Panels of the lower section;

The nasal part of the fuselage have a length of 9m, a width of 5.5m and a height of 6m, contains the cockpit, the zone of life (lower level), the engines and the on-board equipment.

The nose is highly solicited by the rise in temperature at the time of re-entry in the dense layers of the atmosphere, it is covered with a heat shield composed of carbon and mechanically reinforced by 5 strengthening pieces to rigidify the structure.

The higher part includes beams of reinforcement, the port-holes and the trap doors. The mechanical reinforcements are composed of 7 strengthening pieces. Moreover, 6 port-holes out of quartz glass are assembled on the front, 2 trap doors for damages (catapult-launchings) and 2 top port-holes.

The lower part includes the beams of reinforcement with holes to insert the antennas of navigation and the radiotechnology unit, protected by radiotransparentes plates.

On the left part of the fuselage is located the entry trap door made up of 2 parts, one opening inside and the other outside of 90°.

Schematic (model 2.01):