Russia seeks to compete with Elon Musk's reusable missiles

Russian Federal Space Agency Roskosmos is studying how to regain market share of space launch services after SpaceX's success.

Sputnik informed, the units of the Russian Federal Space Agency Roskosmos are seeking to change their boosters after witnessing SpaceX gaining more and more market share of space launch services.

Specifically, the State Aerospace Research and Production Center, called Khrunichev, is now the dominant player in the space launch service market with Proton boosters.

But that was before SpaceX appeared.

Currently, a heavy launch of Proton with 3 phases costs about 65 million USD - more expensive than Elon Musk's Falcon 9 rocket launch.

Proton -M rocket

In order to compete with this increasingly powerful competitor, Khrunichev is seeking to change the specifications of Proton: removing the third tier from the missile at the same time must find a way to reduce its service costs.

In 2016, the Khrunichev Center approved the decision to build two modified versions of Proton-M missiles: Proton Middle and Light Proton.

Khrunichev is trying to change the specifications of Proton.

In the "Middle" version, the missile will remove the third tier. This reduces the cost of launching and adjusting missiles in accordance with traditional satellites that have been lightened in recent years. The missile is completed and may be launched for the first time in 2019.

For the light Proton-class version, Khrunichev has planned to eliminate two parts of the first floor, reducing the cost of hiring missiles.

Currently, the Khrunichev Center is also looking for ways to develop a lightweight line of light boosters to reuse Angara. The missile is capable of carrying between 2,000 and 40,500 kg into the Earth's low orbit.

Angara will use petroleum-based and liquid oxygen as oxidants, unlike the hypergolic propellants used in Proton.

In 2017, Khrunichev began developing the re-used light rocket version of Angara - 1.2. After launching the satellite into orbit, the first floor of the rocket will return to Earth for reuse.

The Khrunichev Center is currently considering a number of technical options to achieve this reuse: parachute landing, landing on its own engine such as the US Falcon, or using wings to drive back to earth. . During the time when Angara is about to leave, the wings will be folded, and when they return to Earth, they will open.

New Soyuz rocket

Also looking to change like Khrunichev, Energiya Space Rocket Corporation founded by Sergei Korolev also wants to return to the rocket design.

Energiya is the rocket design company Vostok, which launched the first space satellite and astronaut Yuri Gagarin to space, and then the largest Soyuz rocket - still used in shows. space of many countries.

Soyuz 2.1v rocket.

The group developed the Soyuz-5 rocket with plans to use it for manned flights to send astronauts to the International Space Station, and for commercial purposes.

The missile is being planned to change engineering designs to be reusable - just like Elon Musk's missile.

The group is considering additional measures to reduce the cost of launching missiles: reusing the first floor of parachutes or jet landing like the Falcon-9; Return the engine part to the parachute (this is the part that is worth 30% of the value of the boosters layer).

Under the plan, by 2022 the Soyuz-5 missile will be launched from the Baikonur space airport.

Korona rockets

The one-time multi-use rocket named Korona is the product of the Center for Rocket Designers of Makeyev.

The Korona project began in 1992 but was originally intended to be a reusable rocket propulsion layer such as SpaceX or Blue Origin.

However, the scientists then proposed to change the purpose, bringing the Korona missile back to Earth intact.

Korona missiles can return to Earth intact.

The proposed rocket is made of composite material, using a new carbon fiber coating. This will make the rocket lighter and more resistant to the load during the flight. With a total weight of about 300 tons, Korona can move to low orbit about 6-7 tons of cargo.

After putting the satellite into orbit, the rocket must directly use the pulses of the propulsion system to return to Earth on moving "legs" , like those of the Falcon.

Just one day after landing to undergo technical preparation, Korona will be ready for a new flight.

Scientists estimate the ability to use this rocket in at least 25 flights, and some of its components can be used at least 100 times.