Next-generation medium-class carrier rocket tests to begin in 2022 - Energia
MOSCOW. May 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Rocket and Space Corporation Energia has begun research and development to create a next-generation medium-class space rocket complex called Fenix (Phoenix), the corporation's general design engineer Yevgeny Mirkin told Interfax-AVN on Friday.
"As part of the research and development work, work began in April of this year to sketch the design of a medium-class carrier-rocket complex. Its tests are expected to begin at Baikonur cosmodrome as part of the Baiterek joint Russian-Kazakh space rocket complex in 2022," Mikrin said.
The carrier rocket will be universally used both at space rocket complexes at Baikonur and Vostochny cosmodromes and at the Sea Launch system, Mikrin said.
"The energy capabilities of the medium-class carrier rocket should enable the delivery of payloads of up to 17 tonnes to the low earth orbit and of up to 2.5 tonnes to the geostationary orbit," Mikrin said.
As for the project's estimated cost, the federal space program envisages appropriate funding but how much exactly is unclear because the amount of funding will not be known before the sketch design is ready, Mikrin said.
