Russia successfully tested its new lighter Soyuz rocket from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on Saturday.
Russia successfully tested its new lighter Soyuz rocket from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on Saturday.
The defence ministry said the launch took place at 16:30 Moscow time (12:30 GMT). Dubbed the Soyuz 2.1v, the rocket features a new upgraded NK-33A engine first stage and digital guidance system.
The maiden launch also orbited a 53-kilogram Aist satellite designed by students of the Samara State Aerospace University.
Designed in the late 1960s, the legendary NK-33 rocket engine was originally developed for the Soviet Union’s abandoned lunar program- for the giant Soviet Moon rocket, the N-1. The liquid oxygen-kerosene-fueled NK-33 has been out of production since the 1970s and has one of the highest thrust to weight ratio in world. After the cancellation of lunar program in 1974, dozens of already manufactured NK-33s ended up in storage.
Twin NK-33 engines designated AJ26 also powers the American Antares launch vehicle built by Orbital.
First draft of the 2.1v version was finished in 2009. The new launcher has no side strap-on booster motors and can deliver up to 2.8 tonnes in low Earth orbit.
