Tim Furniss
Russia's Khrunichev State Space Research and Production Centre has introduced a new family of launchers which could compete in the commercial market by 2001.
The largest of the five proposed Angara launchers has a maximum performance to low Earth orbit of 28t, with a capability of placing 7,600kg (17,000lb) into geostationary transfer orbit.
This would enable the Angara to compete with the new commercial Delta IV and Atlas V launchers being developed by the USA, based on the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle programme, and with Europe's Ariane 5.
Anatoli Kiselev, director general of Khrunichev, said yesterday that the new Angara launchers will use a common core booster with a RD-191M engine and with options of two high performance upper stages.
The engine is a version of the liquid oxygen-kerosene RD-170 with a single combustion chamber.
The RD-170 engine was developed for the Energia heavy lift booster and which powers the first stage of the Zenit 2.
The upper stages include the Breeze M, which is being prepared for its first flight on a Proton booster later this year, and a new high energy stage called the KVRB.
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Two versions of the Angara use a single core stage, like the booster featured at the show, while larger models will comprise a cluster of core stages, much in the way that the Boeing Delta IV and Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 have been designed.
It is not known how the proposed Angara boosters will be funded. Khrunichev will need international investment.
Khrunichev is already part of the International Launch Services (ILS) organisation with Russian company Energia and Lockheed Martin, which markets launches on Atlas and Proton boosters.
It is possible that the Angara will be seen by ILS as Russian replacement for the Proton.
Source: Flight Daily News
