Russia wants to prepare a draft design of an ultralight rocket by the end of 2022. The first launch of the carrier is planned to be carried out in 2025 from the Vostochny cosmodrome.
The timing of the preparation of the draft design of the ultralight launch vehicle, with reference to the head of the Aeronet direction of the National Technological Initiative for Private Space Exploration, Roman Zits , was reported by RIA Novosti.
Now the preparation of the competition for the preliminary project is underway, which is scheduled to begin at the end of the summer. The duration of this stage is six months. The technical task for the preliminary project should be as close as possible to the level of detail of the industry.
At the stage of the draft project, they want to select two teams: for the rocket and the upper stage. The competition for the draft design will take nine months. It consists of two parts: the design part and the creation of demo models that should have partially working systems. As a result, the specialists will choose one team for the tow and the launch vehicle.
The weight of an ultralight rocket should not exceed 20 tons, and the launch price should not exceed three million dollars. The carrier is seen as a two-stage, equipped with oxygen-methane engines. According to the plans, the rocket will be able to put 250 kilograms of payload into a 500-kilometer orbit. The capabilities should be sufficient for launching small satellites. They want to hold the first launch in 2025, the launch site was chosen for the new Russian Vostochny cosmodrome in the Far East, in the Amur region.
Despite all the attempts, the Russian private cosmonautics can not yet boast of serious achievements. Earlier, great hopes were pinned on the company "KosmoKurs", which wanted to create a tourist spacecraft, a spaceport and an ultralight rocket. This year , the company announced its closure.
Currently, Russia does not have an ultralight missile at its disposal. Roscosmos and the FPI (Advanced Research Foundation) are engaged in the development of a light-class carrier with twice the payload capacity. The main goal of the project is to develop technologies for the return of the first stage. You can learn more about this and other projects of reusable Russian missiles in our material.
As for the promising Russian "lunar" super-heavy launch vehicle, it, as it became known recently, can also be made reusable. At the same time, at the first stages of satellite development, it is possible to use a heavy Angara rocket. Its capabilities should be sufficient for the assembly of manned complexes in orbit.