Astrium, NPO Energomash, Snecma Moteurs and Volvo Aero are leading a seven-strong consortium that intends to develop a new rocket engine, the Volga.
The re-usable, 400t engine will be powered by methane and liquid oxygen. The design target is to make one engine fly 50 missions.
The initial development phase will cost $17 million, followed by two further phases costing $87 million. The first phase will involve technical risk mitigation, phase two will see main subsystems development and demonstration, culminating in benchtests on a development prototype in 2003-06. In 2006-07, the partners plan to develop a full-scale prototype for tests leading to first flight on a launch vehicle in 2015.
A proposal for Volga funding is expected to be submitted to the European Space Agency in June as part of the agency's future launcher programme.
Meanwhile, Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and IHI Aerospace are proposing a $35 million revamp of the MV solid propellant satellite launcher, the MV-Lite, to launch 500kg (1,100lb) payloads into 300km (186 miles) by 600km orbits.
The booster would use two of three existing stages of the rocket, which has made three flights, including one failure since 1997. It can place 2t into a 300km orbit.
Source: Flight International
