the name "Kugelraumer" make really sense in German
its means in English "Spherical spaceship"
Perry Rhodan
for those Don't know it
it is the most successful science fiction book series ever written
but only in Germany Language ;D
they start September 1961 and in July 2009 they published edition 2500 !
they also oldes Sci-Fi series in World next to Dr. Who
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_Rhodan
for the "Kugelräumer" design in Perry Rhodan
those links are in Germany Language
http://www.rz-journal.de/Downl/2307.html
and this page - Note the men used Autocad for work
http://www.korvettenprojekt.de/HLprojekt.html
so the russian ball is a pure, unadulterated Sci Fi