Abstract: A rocket propelled vehicle includes a lower stage solid propellant rocket motor and at least one upper stage solid propellant rocket motor. Each of the rocket motors includes a case, a nozzle and a solid propellant having a central combustion chamber, with the case of the lower stage motor, in a preferred embodiment, being open at the forward end and the case of the upper stage motor being open at the aft end and forming a continuation of the open end of the lower stage case, with a layer of slow burning material cast on the surface defining the central combustion chamber of the upper stage solid propellant, and with ignition of all stages being accomplished approximately simultaneously through operation of a single ignition system.