A modular rocket is a type of multistage rocket which features components that can be interchanged for specific mission requirements. Several such rockets use similar concepts such as unified modules to minimize expenses on manufacturing, transportation and for optimization of support infrastructure for flight preparations.
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The Atlas V expendable launch system uses the liquid fuelled Common Core Booster as its first stage. In most configurations a single CCB is used with strap-on solid rocket boosters. For heavier loads three CCBs can be strapped together in the first stage. The Common Core Booster utilizes the Russian made RD-180 burning RP-1 fuel with liquid oxygen producing a thrust of 3.8 MN. The liquid propellant tanks use an isogrid design for strength, replacing previous Atlas tank designs which were pressure stabilized.[1]
The length of the common core booster is 89 feet tall (27 meters), and has a diameter of 12.5 feet.[2]
The Common Booster Core the first stage of the Delta IV rocket. One or three liquid fuel modules can be used as the first stage. It uses the Rocketdyne RS-68 engine and burns liquid hydrogen with liquid oxygen producing a thrust of 2.9 MN.
The Universal Rocket Module (URM) is the modular liquid fuelled first stage of the Angara expendable launch system. Depending on the configuration, the first stage can consist of 1, 3, 5 or 7 URMs. Each URM uses a Russian-made RD-191 engine burning RP-1 fuel with liquid oxygen producing a thrust of 1.92 MN.[3]
The shared core design is used as the first stage on the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The planned Falcon Heavy consists of a standard Falcon 9 with two additional Falcon 9 core stages acting as liquid strap-on boosters. Each core is powered by 9 Merlin 1C engines burning RP-1 fuel with liquid oxygen producing almost 4.1 MN. The side cores cross-feed fuel to the central core until they are expended and released. The cores are planned to eventually be reuseable.