Russian Ministry of Defense showed the appearance of the ultralight carrier rocket “Irkut” and published its technical characteristics. It is reported by RIA Novosti.
So, the mass of a disposable rocket version will be 23.6 tons, a reusable – 25 tons. The first will be able to remove up to 584 kilograms of cargo to low near-earth orbit (200 kilometers) and 84 kilograms on geostationary orbit; The second – 398 and 60 kilograms, respectively. As fuel will be used oxygen-methane in rocket and heptil with an amyle in an accelerated block.
As noted, at the moment Russia has no ultra-light rockets. “Irkut” is planned to start running from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in 2024.
Earlier, the commander-in-chief of the air-space forces (VKS) of Russia Sergey Surovikin said that in 2022, 4 Rockets “Angara” are planned from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The purpose of these starts is the completion of the tests of the “hangar” missiles and the beginning of their serial release “to perform further tasks of military space.”