The director of the M.V. Khrunichev Center, Alexey Brewhanko, spoke about the work on the Angara-A5
At the second stage of the preliminary design of the Amur space rocket complex, which includes the Angara launch vehicles, a rocket-dynamic landing method of the first and second stages was considered, which, after testing, could land on a special landing pad, Gazeta reported.Ru" General Director of M.V. Khrunichev State Scientific Research Center Alexey Brewhenko. He also spoke about the work on the Angara-A5 flight rocket for the Vostochny cosmodrome and its full-size copy.
- Please tell us what the Khrunichev Center is doing now for the Vostochny cosmodrome?
- There are two products in production for the Vostochny cosmodrome: "NJ" (the abbreviation stands for "ground liquid") - a full-size copy of the Angara-A5 launch vehicle for testing the preparation of a standard rocket for launch and certification of the Amur space rocket complex (it includes various Angara launch vehicles), and the Angara-A5 flight rocket.
The product "NJ" is in the final assembly shop in a high degree of readiness.
General Director of JSC "State Space Research and Production Center named after M. V. Khrunichev" Alexey Brewhenko
Image source: Mikhail Japaridze/TASS
- What is the role of the Angara-NJ layout? Why is it important?
- This is a full-size replica of the Angara-A5 rocket, equipped with all the systems that participate in the ground preparation of a real rocket. It will allow, without using the flight "Angara-A5", to work out a cycle of pre-launch and launch operations, to check the operation of refueling equipment in real conditions. Thus, we will be able to certify the new launch complex and those parts of the technical complex that are designed to prepare the rocket for launch.
- At what stage of manufacture is the Angara-A5 for Vostochny? How will it be transported?
- The production of the Angara-A5 flight rocket is taking place in accordance with the schedule.
Fuel and oxidizer tanks will start arriving at the final assembly shop in August 2022. As for the transportation of the launch vehicle, special transportation units have been developed for this purpose. In fact, these are transport containers in which the components of the launch vehicle are transported on regular railway platforms.
- What kind of work is being carried out right now on the East?
- A technical complex has been created at the Vostochny cosmodrome. All construction work has been completed, and at the moment the premises of the complex are ready for installation of equipment, which we plan to start in August this year.
The launch complex is already acquiring regular outlines.
- Can the sanctions imposed by Western countries in the spring of 2022 affect the pace of missile production? If so, which ones and how?
- Initially, when making decisions on the creation of the Angara complex, it was assumed that all components should be manufactured on Russian territory. Therefore, the sanctions that have been imposed cannot affect the manufacture of missiles. It is worth noting that, given the specifics of the industry, even before the sanctions were imposed, our Western colleagues did not seek to give us the opportunity to borrow some advanced foreign technologies. Therefore, everything that we have developed is entirely the work of Russian specialists to provide the country with independent access to space.
- How long before the launch will the Angara-A5 launch vehicle be packed for transportation to Vostochny? How is this done?
- Transportation of the launch vehicle to the Vostochny cosmodrome will be carried out in specially designed transport containers. Their certification within the framework of autonomous and complex tests of means of transportation will take place when the "NJ" product is sent to the Vostochny cosmodrome. The process of loading into shipping containers will begin directly in the assembly shop, where a special railway track has been laid. The containers will be checked, sealed, sealed and then delivered by rail to the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Loading will take several days.
- What are the features of the launch from the East for Angara?
- The most advanced technical solutions are used at the launch complex of the Vostochny cosmodrome, quite a lot of operations will be automated. For example, human participation in the refueling of a rocket is excluded. This will reduce both the complexity of preparing the rocket for launch, and ensure the safety of maintenance personnel, the safety of combat crews. In the future, the launch complex is planned to be modified for a heavier carrier rocket "Angaru-A5V" and for a program with a manned transport vehicle of a new generation. In general, this is a modern launch complex, which is planned to be used for a long time.
- Will Angara have an option with returnable steps? How exactly do they plan to plant them and what is the status of the project?
- The option with the returnable steps of the "Angara" has existed since the very beginning of the creation of this complex. The option of returning both the universal rocket modules that make up the product separately and the rocket as a whole was considered. One of these options is the Baikal, which, according to the project, was supposed to return to the launch site according to the aircraft scheme. In fact, it was an UTM (universal rocket module) equipped with aircraft engines and a rotary wing, which allowed it, after running out of fuel at the work site of the rocket stage, to return to the launch site and make a soft landing.
We also discussed in detail the options for returning a bunch of rocket blocks as a whole and saving not only individual URMs.
Taking into account the necessary complex of works, it will be necessary to additionally and in-depth consider the technical and economic analysis of the project.
Vasily Zaitsev
