Next Generation Rocket Angara: News

Russia expects to complete comprehensive tests of its new Angara heavy-lift rocket in 2021, when the vehicle is slated to enter service before replacing the venerable Russian Proton launcher in 2025.

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the prime contractor for both Proton and the new Angara family of rockets, says the heavy-lift Angara 5 which debuted in December 2014 will be flight tested again in early 2016 with a real payload, rather than a mass simulator as reported in Russian media.

“We are actively seeking a real customer for the actual payload,” said Andrey Kalinovskiy, general director of Khrunichev. “There are a few technical issues to be resolved, so once we get clearance from the specialists we’ll probably even name the customer.”

The news follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval in January of a massive overhaul of the nation’s space industry. The shakeup will establish the new United Rocket and Space Corp. (URSC), which will assume control of Russian space agency Roscosmos and consolidate the holdings of most of Russia’s state-owned space companies, including Khrunichev.

In the meantime, International Launch Services (ILS), the Reston, Virginia-based company that manages commercial Proton missions for Khrunichev, is beginning to market the new Angara family of rockets that is designed to lift light, medium and heavy payloads to orbit. ILS is currently selling the single-core Angara 1 tested in July last year, a vehicle that can launch low Earth orbiting (LEO) missions from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, ILS President Phil Slack says.

“The only active site capable of launching Angara is Plesetsk, which is very near the Arctic Circle and not really conducive to launching payloads to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO),” he said during a briefing at the Satellite 2015 show in Washington, D.C. on March 17. “That being said, it can be done for payloads going to polar orbit, to LEO, so we are actively looking for single-core version customers for Angara 1 out of Plesetsk, where we can lift 3 metric tons to LEO. We can also potentially use the three-core version, the Angara 3, which has not yet flown, but which would offer 14 metric tons of capability to LEO, so you get to launch several satellites at once for constellations.”

Slack said ILS will not market GTO missions atop the heavy-lift Angara 5 until a new launch site at Vostochny in the east of the country is complete. Russia tested the heavy-lift variant late last year, with the expectation that it will be capable of delivering 25 metric tons to LEO from Vostochny.

“The Vostochny site is to be complete for Angara purposes in the 2021 time frame,” Slack said. “As soon as that’s developed and we have the capability to launch Angara 5 out of that, we’ll begin marketing that commercially also.”

Slack said Khrunichev – the majority owner of ILS – does not plan to drop Proton in 2021, but will overlap service until 2025 as Angara is phased in.
In the meantime, Russian officials say Moscow’s economic woes and the fall in the value of its currency is a mixed blessing for Khrunichev and ILS.

“The overall economic environment in Russia and the impact on ILS and Khrunichev is impossible to deny,” Kalinovskiy said. “At the same time, it is nothing extraordinary. Management is fully aware of the immediate tasks and requirements to streamline and improve efficiency. And we are enjoying a certain degree of government support, to industry and the company specifically.”

Slack said ILS and Khrunichev are using 500 million rubles ($8 million) in government funding allocated this year to increase Proton production efficiency and improve quality in an effort to lower the cost of producing the rocket, which has suffered a spate of mishaps in recent years.
“Over the next couple of years there will be 37 billion rubles in new loans,” to be disbursed in 2015 and 2016 to help pay off existing debt and improve the Proton production line, he said, including a new focus on automation and less human involvement in manufacturing, inspection and test, as well as a reduction in the number of plants and facilities.
“We’re moving toward more streamlined production where metal comes in one door and a rocket booster comes out the other door, and there is less movement around the factory,” he said.

Slack said currency valuation is also having an impact.
“Most of our contracts are designated in U.S. dollars, and most of our costs are in rubles,” he said. “So as the exchange rate goes up, there are more rubles provided for the overall price that we’re paid. But at the same time, when you have a wide change in the currency rate, that will also lead to a change in inflation, and wages will go up, so it’s not a one-for-one benefit. But in the near-term at least there is some benefit, and we’re using these benefits – both planned cost reductions as well as the situation with the foreign exchange rate – to offer more competitive prices to the marketplace.”

Regular wrote:I hope it will replaced sooner. Proton crashed again. Well at least Falcon 9 was certified by NASA.

Vann7 wrote:

Regular wrote:I hope it will replaced sooner. Proton crashed again. Well at least Falcon 9 was certified by NASA.

yeah but falcon 9 was never under sabotage by any nation.. The is a lot of claims
of criminal sabotage on the proton rocket.. and this claims do not come from internet
but for the FSB and Roscosmos chief..  but later the Russian government change the cause
of the investigation.. for politics.  

If indeed is true ,there is criminal sabotage on the Proton Rocket.. it will not matter regular
how certified is anything.. or how well is designed .. as long criminal nations are allowed to get
away with their attacks of Russia space program.  

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20150602/1067761286.html

NOVOSIBIRSK, 2 Jun — RIA Novosti. The Governor of the Omsk region and the CEO of the Center Khrunichev Tuesday approved the "road map" joint action for the development of the Omsk production Association "Polyot" — base platform for future production of the carrier rocket "Angara", according to the regional authorities.
During a working meeting in Omsk Governor Viktor Nazarov agreed with Andrew Kalinowski on the implementation of the action plan for socio-economic development of the production Association "Flight" for 2015-2020. A road map, which was approved Tuesday, includes activities related to training of professionals, development of production and social sphere, to attract staff," said the Governor.
The CEO of the Center Khrunichev Kalinowski believes that the plant will solve the problem of building efficient production, which on the level of organization, productivity, quality of products will meet all modern requirements of global manufacturers. "We must be competitive in nature and does not depend on whether we have the imported parts or not," he said.
According to the Director of the space holding in Omsk creates the best plant in the space industry, and approved Tuesday a plan of measures is a further stage of the joint work in creating a new production with the most modern technology and equipment.
"And these are new demands on staff, which is significantly increased and the level of training, the qualifications are not only engineers, but also workers. We need fundamentally new training programs. Thus it is necessary to ensure not only the arrival of the experts, but also the consolidation of the company. For this and created a comprehensive program of activities", — said the representative of the Khrunichev Centre.
It is noted that the structuring, timing and objectives of the training will be determined on Wednesday at the meeting in Omsk under the leadership of Dmitry Rogozin.

Omsk "Polyot" will be assembling 100 of "Angara" carrier rockets per year. This will be possible in five years, when the company will reach its full capacity. About this at the meeting with Dmitry Rogozin in Omsk, said General Director GKNPTs Khrunichev Andrey Kalinovsky.

Dmitry Rogozin arrived in Omsk, to personally overview how much you're ready to implement large-scale plans of rocket scientists and engineering universities. Apparently, the visit met their expectations.

- Implementation of state plans in Omsk has a reason. We put great hopes on you, " said the Chairman at the meeting with students of Omsk state technical University. - And, despite the novelty, the missiles should be as economical. We need a sort of "technological fitness. Everything has to be "dried", concise, modernized and result-oriented.

Omsk is already moving this way. Build "Angara" will be concentrated in one place, the vacated area of huge areas used for buildings, in which dwell the young professionals. Requirements are quite high.

- Our task - substitution. Therefore, the desired frames of the appropriate level, able not only to understand the latest device of the machine, but also to create a perfect analogue, - said Rogozin.

According to experts, "Angara" will replace "Proton". The high power rocket will be releasing both in heavy and light class. This is a fundamentally new generation of vehicles based on the universal rocket module with environmentally friendly oxygen-kerosene engines.

Omsk rocket scientists have already completed the first stage of the program of reconstruction and technical re-equipment needed for serial production "Angara". In the perspective of Omsk plant will turn into a national center for the production of a wide range of rocket and space and aviation technology. In the past year, the testing of launch vehicles light and heavy class were successful. The next launch will take place in 2016.


Dmitry Rogozin asked the head of region Victor Nazarov with a request to take the implementation of a major project under his personal control.

ASTANA, June 23 - RIA Novosti. The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, signed the law on ratification of the protocol to the agreement with the Russian Federation on creation at the cosmodrome "Baikonur" space rocket complex "Baiterek", the press service of the head of state.

The agreement between Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation on creation of a complex on the basis of the launch vehicle "Angara", which should be replaced by "Baikonur" space rocket complex "Proton", was signed December 22, 2004.
The protocol provides for the extension of the grace period for repayment of principal and payment of compensation until 2019 for budgetary credits issued for the implementation of the project to create space rocket complex "Baiterek".
To implement the project, a joint venture "Baiterek", which the Kazakh side has allocated a budget loan of 223 million dollars for 19 years with five-year grace period on repayment of principal and payment of remuneration. Under the agreement, the Russian side was to provide flight test of a space rocket complex "Angara" at the cosmodrome "Plesetsk".

The complex "Baikonur"  - an international space port, which provides the implementation of Russian and international space programs, located on the territory of Kazakhstan.
In accordance with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan complex "Baikonur" leased to Russia until 2050 .

Rmf wrote:this is not good its waistefull on money and already strains budget the duplication on plesetsk + vostochni ,.....+now baikonur launch pads construction and facilities , but i guess they had to take this route.
the satelites launched from vostochni are way off south from moscow and europe , also the orbits are away from space stations and other constelations since most were launched from baikonur ,changing orbits from vostochni launch to synchronise with baikonur orbital path would reduce payloads.
vostochni is making alot of trouble for planners.

Russia's Federal Space Agency secured the biggest space launch contract in history with French and British firms which aim to provide global broadband Internet service.
Russia's Roscosmos Federal Space Agency secured a contract with France's Arianespace and British OneWeb global broadband Internet service to launch 672 satellites between 2017 and 2019.

First Launch of Super-Heavy Angara Carrier Rocket to Take Place in 2021
The OneWeb satellites will be able to provide broadband fiber-quality Internet to the entire world, and in particular to residents of rural areas without broadband Internet, according to Arianespace. The satellites will be launched using 21 Soyuz carrier rockets, with an option for five more launched after the contract is complete for the purpose of replenishing old satellites.
"This contract is the biggest in the history of providing launch services. And the choice of Soyuz carrier rockets is evidence of the high competitiveness of Russian space launch technology," Roscosmos head Igor Komarov said.

The project provides for 21 space launches, with an option for five more if the contract is prolonged for another year afterwards. Arianespace praised the Soyuz carrier rockets for their ability to launch satellites into the polar orbit necessary for providing the service.

"The unique capability of being able to achieve near polar orbit from multiple launch sites using a common launcher along with its proven industrial production were instrumental in the Soyuz selection as a key resource to deploy the constellation on schedule," Arianespace said in a press release.


Russia Begins Mass Production of Glonass-K1 Navigation Satellites
The OneWeb micro-satellites will weigh around 150 kilograms, and will be placed into orbit 1,200 kilometers above the earth's surface, according to Roscosmos. The memorandum of understanding for the deal was signed on June 15 at the Paris Air Show. The satellites will be manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space in France and a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space in the United States.
The launches are planned to take place at the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan, at Russia's new Vostochnyy cosmodrome and at the French Guiana Space Centre

PapaDragon wrote: Using Angara from Vostochni  hass pretty much same payload as Proton on Baikonur, no loss there only gains.

Kazaks want to remove Proton from Baikonur due to toxic fuel. Russia uses/sells them Angara until Vostochni is up and running. this way Kazakhs do not make noise and Ruskies keep using Baikonur for manned flights until PTK-NP is ready. After that buye,buye Baikonur.

There is no duplication of facilities, Plasetsk is military spaceport for small payloads, Vostochni is civilian spaceport for large payloads and manned flights and Baikonur is massive security risk that will be solved with introduction of Vostochni spaceport.

Only trouble is Baikonur but that obsolete s**thole on foreign territory will soon be history.

GunshipDemocracy wrote:...................................

IMHO no need to be emotional about Bajkonur, just calculate all pros and cons and then make a decision. Why not to use Angaras on both sites those requiring security or other special wishes then Vostotchny of course but what if  Vostorchny is has not enough  capacity to launch all sold starts?

Airbus Defence and Space and Khrunichev Centre are the partners in joint Eurockot Launch Services enterprise founded in 1995.

Eurockot Launch Services was established for Rokot light boosters marketing.

According to the spokesman the main reason of the negotiations is expiration of  service term of RS-18B ballistic missile that are being used as Rockot boosters

According to the spokesman the main reason of the negotiations is the fact that service limit (31 years) of RS-18B ballistic missile being used as Rockot boosters will expire in 2016 and prolongation is considered unpractical. According to Roscosmos spokesman Rokot will be launched not more than 5 times: with European Sentinel satellites and Russian Gonets space devices.

“It was initially known that   service period of these rockets is limited and we understand that our cooperation on Rockets comes to an end. That’s why we discuss with Khrunichev Centre further cooperation on other boosters in the framework of our joint enterprise Eurockot Launch Services”. – Airbus Defence and Space CIS branch manager Vladimir Terekhov said .

“Soon Eurockot shareholders supervisory board meeting will take place to discuss  Company activity issues”, – Khrunichev Centre official representative Alexander Shmygov stated.

For now there was only one test launch of Angara light booster performed from Plesetsk spaceport. The price of these boosters is not quoted.

MOSCOW, July 17. /TASS/. International Launch Services (ILS), a global launch services provider for commercial satellite operators, said that the Angara 1.2 rocket will be available for launch in 2017.

"Launches will be conducted from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia," ILS said in a press release.
ILS, which possesses the exclusive rights to market the Angara vehicle to commercial customers, said that Angara 5, the heavy-lift variant, "will be available for GTO missions in the 2021 timeframe, following completion of the Vostochny Cosmodrome launch site located in eastern Russia."

Angara, named after a river in Eastern Siberia, is a family of space-launch vehicles being developed by the Moscow-based Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center.

Angara 1.2 has a lift-off mass of 171 tonnes and can deliver over 3 tonnes of payload to a low orbit.
Angara 5 is a heavy lift launch vehicle, weighing 773 tonnes at lift-off. Angara 5 has a payload capacity of 24.5 tonnes

PapaDragon wrote:
''NPO "Energomash": started the development of the engine for the Russian moon rocket''

http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/66746/

Rmf wrote:

PapaDragon wrote:
''NPO "Energomash": started the development of the engine for the Russian moon rocket''

http://www.sdelanounas.ru/blogs/66746/

kinda weak engine for moon shot. apolo module had 150t. this angara version can lift up to 40 tonns.

Rmf wrote:thats 3 launches and inefficient... theyll use angara a5v for moon robots only.
angara a7  or new launcher will be needed for man moon shot.