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Large post-socialist standardized housing estates of living blocks typology were built under communism during the 1950-80s in every city along with the territory of the former USSR. The concept of centralized planning ideology and the amount of prefabricated large housing estates in Soviet cities solved the problem of the demand for dwellings in the post-war social situation. The contemporary living environment of large post-socialist housing estates features low quality of dwelling and territories. This paper is focused on the analysis of the actual problems, which emerged in the living environment of large-scale panel housing estates, challenges of post-socialist transition and future possibilities of urban regeneration. The research methodology is based on the case study analysis of prefabricated large housing estates in 4 Ukrainian cities. Research shows the ways of urban regeneration of large housing estates in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues and peculiarities pertaining to the development of the world's first detachable warhead for the R-2 ballistic missile are considered. The fact that S.P. Korolev played an important part in this activity is a relatively unknown aspect of his scientifical and technological work. Data based on the specimen of the detachable R-2 ballistic missile warhead available in the teaching repository of the SM4 BMSTU department are used. The research into the initial stage of creating mass-produced ballistic missiles in the USSR is based on the recollections of those scientists and specialists who worked under the immediate guidance of S.P. Korolev. It is shown how important the development of the detachable R-2 ballistic missile warhead was for solving the problem of the «heat barrier», leading to heat-shielding coating and composite materials being used, research into thermophysical processes and heat-loaded structures being carried out, and subsequent successful evolution of ballistic missiles and launch systems taking place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]