Korolev cross

noun

A rocket booster separation maneuver, especially that of the Soyuz rocket family, where four side boosters are ejected at the same time in four directions 90° offset from each other, forming a cross shape.

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Meanings

Korolev cross1

nounKorolev cross (plural Korolev crosses)

plural Korolev crosses · alternative Korolev Cross

  1. A rocket booster separation maneuver, especially that of the Soyuz rocket family, where four side boosters are ejected at the same time in four directions 90° offset from each other, forming a cross shape.

Korolev Cross2

nounKorolev Cross (plural Korolev Crosses)

plural Korolev Crosses

  1. alternativeAlternative form of Korolev cross.

Origin

From Korolev + cross. From the cross shape formed by the 4 boosters of the R-7/Soyuz family of rockets as they separate from the core, and the name of the rocket's chief designer, Sergei Korolev.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 科羅廖夫十字 /科罗廖夫十字
  • 科羅廖夫十字 /科罗廖夫十字 (Kēluóliàofū shízì)Translations
French croix de Korolev
  • croix de KorolevTranslations
Japanese コロリョフの十字架
  • コロリョフの十字架 (Kororyofu no jūjika)Translations
Korean 코롤료프의 십자가
  • 코롤료프의 십자가 (korollyopeu-ui sipjaga)Translations
Russian Крест Королёва
  • Крест Королёва (Krest Koroljóva)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

Korolev cross. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Korolev%20cross

MLA

“Korolev cross.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Korolev%20cross. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Korolev cross,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Korolev%20cross.

Source: Korolev cross on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.