Russia's advanced Oryol spacecraft engine undergoing testing - Roscosmos
MOSCOW. Dec 27 (Interfax) - A new rocket engine for the reentry vehicle of the prospective Oryol new-generation reusable spacecraft is being tested at the Research Institute of Machine-Building (NIIMash, part of Roscosmos' NPO Energomash), Roscosmos said on Wednesday.
"The finalization tests are now being conducted, and at the same time engines are being manufactured to complete the firing mockup of the descent actuator system and other mockups," the press service said in a statement.
The tests of the firing mockup will be conducted at NIIMash "in the near future," and the first engines underwent design tests in May 2023, it said.
"The new peroxide rocket engine is designed for use in the reentry vehicle of the prospective manned spacecraft. Peroxide is a completely new type of fuel for NIIMash, so the work is being done with special precautions. There are serious requirements set for cleanliness, technological attachments and tools," it said.
The engine was developed by the Korolyov Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, Roscosmos said. NIIMash manufactures parts and assemblies, and also assembles and tests the peroxide rocket engines themselves.
On July 3, Roscosmos said that mockups of the reusable spacecraft will be tested at Vostochny Cosmodrome in 2024-2025.
In August, Russian space station chief designer Vladimir Kozhevnikov told Interfax that the Oryol will embark on its maiden flight in 2028.
The maiden flight of the reusable spacecraft with a crew onboard will be carried out in 2028-2029, Energia General Designer and Deputy General Director, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Solovyov said on November 7.
Russia is developing the Oryol reusable spacecraft under the Federatsiya R&D program. The spacecraft will deliver crews and cargo to space stations in near-Earth orbit and will serve as a key element of the lunar exploration roadmap.
On April 10, 2023, Roscosmos First Deputy Head Andrei Yelchaninov said in an interview with Interfax that the project for developing the Oryol spacecraft for missions to the Moon would be reconsidered. The groundwork done for the Oryol spacecraft project will be used to design a new, light spacecraft for flights to the prospective Russian space station.
On December 26, 2022, Roscosmos Executive Director for Manned Space Programs Sergei Krikalev said in an interview with Interfax that Russia's new Oryol spacecraft can fly to the Moon only if it is propelled by a super-heavy-lift rocket.