Nose cone

The nose cone is usually used to refer to the forwardmost, usually separable section of a rocket or guided missile that is shaped to offer minimum aerodynamic resistance. Nose cones are also designed for travel in and under water and in high speed land vehicles.

On a rocket vehicle it consists of a chamber or chambers in which a satellite, instruments, animals, plants, or auxiliary equipment may be carried, and an outer surface built to withstand high temperatures generated by aerodynamic heating. In a satellite vehicle, the nose cone may become the satellite itself after separating from the final stage of the rocket or it may be used to shield the satellite until orbital speed is accomplished, then separating from the satellite.

When building a nose cone, the main problem is determining the shape. It requires a solid of revolution that experiences minimal resistance to rapid motion through a medium consisting of elastic particles. See the article on nose cone design which contains possible shapes and formulas.