Russia develops methane boosters

The Roscosmos Russian Space Agency is developing a methane rocket engine to compete in the global race. Russian media said the project was implemented from 2016 to 2025 according to the federal budget.

Roscosmos is proposing the amount of 25 billion rubles (about 326 million USD) devoted to the research and development of rocket propulsion engines. In 2016, $ 6 million will be disbursed, according to news reports Izvestia.

"We are creating a methane engine prototype. This helps us not lag behind in the race with other countries. We are currently studying second phase propulsion for generation missiles. new, " Izvestia newspaper quoted a project development scientist.

Methane gas boosters have many outstanding advantages.

However, not all of the required funds were granted to study methane engine missiles. This program will develop a completely new generation of liquid fuel engines and missile chambers made of composite materials.

The new methane gas engine will be used to propel the Phonenix rocket and based on the federal budget. However, at the last minute, engineers decided to improve the existing Zenit missile model instead of creating an entirely new generation of missiles.

The use of methane as a fuel for rocket engines has recently been discovered by Russian research and production companies. Energomash has created a natural gas rocket engine design board since 2012. The Council proposes to develop a single-chamber engine with a thrust of 200 tons supplied by oxygen and liquefied methane.

US aerospace manufacturer SpaceX is developing a methan rocket engine named Raptor . This motive could be reused and fulfill the goal of exploring Mars, according to SpaceX spokesman Emily Shanklin.

One of the advantages of the methane rocket engine is that it is easy to contain and methane is lighter than hydrogen, making a huge difference in long-distance space missions.

In addition, methane fuel tanks do not need thick protection, making them lighter and cheaper when mounted on rockets.

Methane is also easily found in Mars, Jupiter and many other planets outside the Earth. Scientists believe that methane can be produced on Mars by synthesizing water and CO2.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is planning the first launch of the ExoMars project on March 14. The device TGO will be put on Mars for 7 months in search of methane sources in the red planet.