Les russes lancent le "conceptual design" du MRKS-1

Subject of a contract

"Creating a reusable rocket-space system of the first stage" in developing a conceptual design.

Code: ROC "MRKS-1."

The initial (maximum) contract price: 250 000 000.0 rubles (two hundred fifty million).

Terms of the contract: December 2011 - September 2013

3.2 Requirements destination 3.2.1. MRKS-1 is designed to ensure the launching of space vehicles (SV) socio-economic, scientific, and commercial use of double weighing 25 - 35 T (LEO inclination 51,7 °) at different altitudes and orbit inclinations, including a geosynchronous transfer orbit and geostationary orbit, and also on escape trajectories using boosters (RB), running manned spacecraft, and a radical reduction of the impact area separating parts.

Khrunichev them. Khrunichev has won a competition to create a reusable rocket and space systems of the first stage (code: ROC MRKS-1). As we have already told "Times", the development of conceptual design of the system was evaluated in Roskosmos 250 million rubles, the term of the project - up to September 2013 . Applications for participation in the contest was originally filed three companies - Makeyev State Rocket Center (Miass) TsSKB "Progress" (Samara) and Khrunichev them. Khrunichev (Moscow). However, the center of Samara was denied participation because "the proposal presented to the late implementation of the contract." On Monday it became known that the Competition Commission, having considered the application of participants at the meeting of December 16, preferred the Space Center. Khrunichev. Makeyev center offering Roscosmos do the job cheaper - for 235 million rubles, but, considering all other criteria for performance of work, the agency stopped at version hrunichevtsev.

Russian reusable rockets can fly on methane

17/11/2010

Future Russian reusable rocket-space system may be used as fuel liquefied natural gas - methane, told reporters Tuesday CEO of KB himavtomatiki Vladimir Rachuk.

Earlier, the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute (FSUE TsAGI) Zhukovsky analyzed the design materials of different options reusable rocket and space systems (MRKS-1). The most rational option Khrunichev was declared to them. Khrunichev, which includes a family of reusable space rocket, based on a modular principle and ensure the elimination of low-Earth orbit on a wide range of payloads.

Speaking at the conference "Aerospace" at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), Rachuk said that KB is developing rocket engines using fuel as oxygen and methane. According to him, methane is much cheaper than traditional kerosene and has a higher heat capacity.

"This engine will be offered to prospective reusable space system that develops KB Khrunichev," - said Rachuk.

MRKS-1 is a partially reusable launch vehicle vertical launch cruise on a reusable first stage, carried out on an airplane and returned to the scheme launch area for a horizontal landing on the airfield, and on the basis of one-time second stages and boosters. Winged reusable first-stage unit is equipped with a liquid-propellant engines mid-flight shuttle.

Returns the first step MRKS-1 will provide a high level of safety and security and to give up parts of the fall release detachable parts, which can improve the performance of promising commercial applications. These benefits are extremely important for Russia - the only country in the world, has a continental location of existing and prospective launch site.

Use reusable carrier is assumed to be above 2025.