Russian NK-33 to power Swiss SOAR Spaceplane

SOAR Spaceplane Image Credit:S3 Swiss Space Systems (S3) and Russian rocket engine maker Kuznetsov has discussed the possibility of using...

SOAR Spaceplane Image Credit:S3

Swiss Space Systems (S3) and Russian rocket engine maker Kuznetsov has discussed the possibility of using the NK-39 cruise rocket engine (NK-33 prototype) to launch the SOAR reusable suborbital spaceplane.

S3 is developing a suborbital small satellite launch system using the SOAR spaceplane and a modified Airbus A300 carrier aircraft.

A service contract is expected to be signed by both parties, whereby Kuznetsov will carry out modification to adapt the NK-39 for use in SOAR.
SOAR will fire the NK-39 liquid oxygen- kerosene rocket engine to reach an altitude of nearly 80 km after leaving the carrier aircraft at 10 km.
The 250 kg satellite is deployed from cargo bay doors of SOAR, using a expendable third stage, into an 700km orbit above Earth. The shuttle then glide back unpowered to Earth for landing.

The maiden test flight along with satellite is planned for 2017. S3 engineers have completed the Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Review of the system. S3 unveiled the mini space shuttle program in March 2013.
The NK-33 rocket engine was designed and built in the late 1960s to power the ill-fated Soviet N-1 moon rocket. The engine produces 1,505 kN of thrust at sea level.