/sci/ - Science & Math

>>11538304
The Soviets liked sphere/hemisphere shapes because they are the simplest shape for a pressure vessel and they had difficulties manufacturing large cylindrical pressure vessels.

Look at the Apollo LM pressure vessel (pic related) and notice how much more complex it is compared to the Soviet LK lander.
It's also why the N1 rocket had such an inefficient and unusual tapered shape. If you look at a cutaway drawing the tanks are all spherical instead of cylindrical.