Soyuz-7 space rocket to be launched from Sea Launch platform - Rogozin
MOSCOW. Dec 31 (Interfax) - The advanced Soyuz-7 launch vehicle will be designed to be launched from the Sea Launch platform, Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 (VGTRK) television channel.
"The Soyuz-5 launch vehicle will have the Soyuz-5 version, the main version which will launch from Baikonur, and the Soyuz-7 version will be for the Sea Launch platform," Rogozin said.
The Soyuz-5 will be ready by 2022. The rocket's diameter will be 4.1 meters.
"The processing equipment for the Samara-based Progress Rocket Space Centre is being purchased now," he said.
As reported earlier, S7 Space is preparing to relocate the Sea Launch space rocket system to Russia. All necessary permission has been obtained to change the system's location, including from the U.S. Department of State. The transfer of the launch platform and the command ship to a port in the Far East is planned for 2020, S7 Space said.
After the transfer is completed, the launch platform and ship will be temporarily based at the Slavyanka Ship Maintenance Plant at the Slavyanka port.
S7 Group acquired the Sea Launch platform in 2018. The holding's assets now include the Sea Launch Commander ship, the Odyssey platform with rocket equipment installed on it, the ground equipment at the Long Beach port in the United States, and intellectual rights belonging to Sea Launch, including the brand.