28 August 2012 | 15:16

Building of Russian-Ukrainian-Kazakhstan rocket for flight to Moon will take 3-4 years

Angara rocket model in Khrunichev State Space Scientific-Production Center. ©RIA Novosti

In cooperation with Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Russia is able to build a new superheavy carrier rocket capable of delivering space vehicles of up to 20 tons to the Moon within 3-4 years, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports citing Vitaly Lopota, president of S.P. Korolyov Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, as saying at the International Aerospace Congress held in Moscow. “We are ready to create a superheavy carrier rocket capable of delivering space vehicles to the Moon within 3, maximum 4 years,” Lopota said. He stressed that this plan will require attraction of experts from Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It is possible to create the new rocket at such a rapid pace “only in one case: if we using the already existing flight components”, he explained. In particular, Lopota mentioned the rocket engine RD-171 used in Zenit rockets. “I have been contacted by representatives of Ukraine and Kazakhstan,” Lopota said. According to him, the project is also supported by head of RosKosmos Vladimir Popovkin. Such rocket, he said, has to have the capacity of 60-70 tons to lift a 20-ton space vehicle to the orbit at the height of 200km.

In cooperation with Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Russia is able to build a new superheavy carrier rocket capable of delivering space vehicles of up to 20 tons to the Moon within 3-4 years, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports citing Vitaly Lopota, president of S.P. Korolyov Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, as saying at the International Aerospace Congress held in Moscow. “We are ready to create a superheavy carrier rocket capable of delivering space vehicles to the Moon within 3, maximum 4 years,” Lopota said. He stressed that this plan will require attraction of experts from Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It is possible to create the new rocket at such a rapid pace “only in one case: if we using the already existing flight components”, he explained. In particular, Lopota mentioned the rocket engine RD-171 used in Zenit rockets. “I have been contacted by representatives of Ukraine and Kazakhstan,” Lopota said. According to him, the project is also supported by head of RosKosmos Vladimir Popovkin. Such rocket, he said, has to have the capacity of 60-70 tons to lift a 20-ton space vehicle to the orbit at the height of 200km.

Ukraine space Russia rocket news Kazakhstan Kazakh CIS