Kazakhstan to help Russia build rocket to fly to Mars
ASTANA. Aug 1 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan will help Russia design a super-heavy rocket for future flights to Mars, the Kazakh embassy in Moscow said in a statement.
"According to the approved strategy of future cooperation at the Baikonur complex, the creation of a super-heavy rocket has been named a priority of joint space projects of Kazakhstan and Russia," the embassy said.
Russia is already working on the super-heavy rocket, and a presidential order to that effect was signed in early 2018. The Energia Corporation was designated the general contractor.
"The complex's conceptual design will be ready by the end of 2019, and the rocket's maiden launch will be performed in 2028. The super-heavy rocket will be used for space missions, such as flights to the moon and Mars," the embassy said.
Kazakhstan and Russia also plan to design a super-light rocket for launching microsatellites and to start producing rocket parts at the cosmodrome.