According to official data, Russia is close to creating a reusable spacecraft of a new generation. His project is handled by the NGO "Molniya", which developed the famous "Buran".
Olga Sokolova, the head of the Molniya NGO, announced the accelerated development of a promising reusable spacecraft of a new type in Russia [...] . "Over the past year, we have made very serious progress in terms of developing a new civil aerospace complex. Up to this point, there were some individual developments, but there was no clear task. Now the task has been set, and the development of a civilian reusable complex with an orbital aircraft is in full swing, "the website of Molniya says. The new device can fly into space "in the next five years."
The model of the device, according to Sokolova, was presented at the exhibition "Army-2020": the demonstration was held in closed mode, so that outsiders could not see the spacecraft. Now the efforts of the NGO "Molniya" are aimed at improving the ship, and the recruitment of specialists who are ready to work on it continues.
It is worth saying that this is not the first recent information about the possible creation in Russia of a conditional analogue of the "Buran". Last year, the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, also announced work in this direction. As he noted, a similar task is set for Energia and a number of other enterprises that should offer their own development options. There was no specifics in the words of the head of the space department, and his statement was soon forgotten.
"Buran»
Image source: npomolniya
One of the reasons is the active development in Russia of the new-generation spacecraft "Eagle", which was previously known as"Federation". This device has serious conceptual differences from the "Buran", being more similar to the new American Crew Dragon and CST-100.
Tests of the promising device were systematically postponed (it is worth saying that this feature is characteristic not only for Russians). According to information announced last year by Rogozin, the "Eagle" can make its first flight in 2023. The first launch with a crew on board can be carried out in 2025.
"The Eagle»
Image source: Roscosmos
As for the purpose of the ship, it is considered as a means to deliver astronauts to the Moon and the space station: at the same time, for the latter, according to Rogozin, the spacecraft may be too expensive.
It is also appropriate to recall that, according to the data presented last year, on the basis of the" Eagle " can create a lightweight version, designed for two astronauts. It is this option that they allegedly want to use for flights to the moon.
