Fenix rocket to become first stage of Russian super-heavy-lift launch vehicle - Rogozin
MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia will develop a new super-heavy-lift launch vehicle similar to the Energia rocket for exploring deep space, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 (VGTRK) television channel on Wednesday.
"The new federal space program includes the development of a new space rocket, Fenix, to become the first stage for a super-heavy-lift launch vehicle. This is not 37 tonnes of Angara or 25 tonnes of Proton, but even 100 or, maybe, even 150 tonnes," he said.
"Angara is sort of a 'jeep' to launch seven tonnes in its light modification and up to 37 tonnes in the heavy-lift one, yet we need a 'truck' for large-scale expeditions, and the super-heavy-lift rocket will be our 'truck'; we are starting it in approximately the same way the Soviet Union started its project in the past," the deputy prime minister said.
The president insisted that Roscosmos progress in this field and the federal space program was optimized despite the need to save funds for the sake of accomplishing this project.