Towards the morning dawn - on the "Angara"
In the race of super-heavy carriers of Russia, it is recommended to go the distance
All debates about how to develop the domestic space program in the near future may have been stopped by 12 in March, when the Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos, just headed by industry veteran Yury Koptev (before him, the place was traditionally “reserved” for the head of the Federal Space Agency) made a fateful decision - to recommend to the executive authorities to forget for a while about the development of an extra-heavy launch vehicle capable of putting a payload of up to 75 tons into low-Earth orbit and focusing on wake up on improving the heavy version of the Angar launch vehicle with a payload of up to 35 tons.
As you know, one of the initial versions of the yet unapproved Federal Space Program (FKP) for 2016 – 2025 provided for the creation of a super-heavy class launch vehicle. It was about 75 tonnes carrying capacity (at the first stage) "in order to launch new-generation spacecraft into high near-earth orbits, as well as to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and other bodies of the Solar System."
Let us pay attention to the words “in order to launch spacecraft of a new generation into high near-earth orbits”. A few hints of what kind of devices will be made with reference to the Americans below.
Why did the NTS make such a decision, and without competition, although there would be a lot of money at stake? Why wasn’t a public discussion, which in theory should precede even recommendatory conclusions? Until the final decision is made, the Military-Industrial Courier gives the floor to those who uphold the position of the Roscosmos NTS and those who strongly disagree.
But first - a little stories and officialdom.
Even during the active work of the Joint Commission of Roscosmos and NASA (it was formed in 1994 as the Utkin-Stafford Commission, and later renamed Anfimov-Stafford) in 2009, it was determined that taking into account future payloads and possible interaction during future missions in deep space, both Russia and the United States need launch vehicles with a payload of up to 18 tons and 70 – 80 tons with the prospect of reaching 130 tons. The United States has the first and is confidently moving in the second direction - their SLS (Space Launch System) super-heavy carrier with an initial payload of 70 tons must make the first flight at the end of the 2018 of the year. Russia intended to follow the same path. But…
As reported by the press service of Roskosmos from 12 March, the agency NTS, "taking into account the real possibilities of state financing of the projects of the Federal Space Program to 2025 of the year (it has not yet been accepted, there is only a project. - Approx." MIC ") and the Federal Target Program for the Development of Space Centers before the 2025 of the year (such does not exist at all, the current federal target program is calculated until the end of 2015 of the year. - Note. "MIC"), as well as the need for the priority development of the Russian orbital group, decided to recommend to the Khrunichev Research and Production Center (GKNPTs), together with the Energia rocket and space corporation (RSC), to develop an advance design of the Angara-A5B launch vehicle with its possible adaptation with promising transport and manned ships and other payloads for to fly to the near-moon space and to the surface of the moon. "
Later, the head of the NTS explained that this recommendation was taken primarily from financial considerations (according to his data, the change in the value of the ruble led to the fact that the increase in the cost of each space project was about 27%), and also due to the fact that “today and in the foreseeable future, no payloads are visible, except for flights to the Moon or to Mars, which would require such a class of carriers. ” (What about the “new generation spacecraft”?)
At the same time, it was claimed that the GKNPTs made an alternative development of the launch vehicles that they wanted to see in Roscosmos. The center proposed the development of the Angara-A5 launch vehicle in the Angara-A5В, which provides for the use of universal rocket modules (URM) with existing single-chamber RD-193 engines on oxygen and kerosene at the first and second stages and replacing the third stage with oxygen - hydrogen.
“Such a rocket will be able to bring 35 – 37 tons into low orbit,” said Yuri Koptev. According to him, the cost of developing such a rocket will amount to 37 billion rubles, while a number of complex technical problems have to be solved, as well as to create an infrastructure at the cosmodrome for working with oxygen-hydrogen booster, including the launch complex on the Vostochny (Amur region). The head of the NTS argued that such a rocket could be created by 2022 year.
Such a recommendation — huge amounts of money will be spent on its implementation should an appropriate decision be made — should be implemented on a competitive basis, with the right and opportunity for all parties to state and prove their position. However, one wonders: recently in Roskosmos it has become the rule to hold contests without a contest - it is worth remembering the latest appointments. As one of the failed applicants for the high position of the head of one of the agency’s structures explained, the rocket specialist was advised to withdraw from the “contest” in which a person far from the industry had “won”.
Starting deadlock
For starters, we estimate for the money. For the Angara-A5B launches, it will be necessary to build a second launch complex at the Vostochny cosmodrome (the first in Plesetsk). But one more recommendation of the Roscosmos NTS is as follows: “... consider the possibilities of state financing of the rocket and space industry enterprises for scientific and technical reserves, promising technologies, main systems and units for creating a space rocket complex with a super-heavy launch vehicle for research of the Moon and Mars and other planets of the solar system. " So, the super-heavy carrier will still be, but later? And in the East will have to build another launch complex? How, then, with the money? After all, it is obvious that two complexes will cost much more than one. Therefore, many experts polled by "MIC" are unanimous that it is necessary to build only one launch complex at the East under a really promising carrier.
Immediately after the publication of the recommendations of the Roskosmos NTS, the Military-Industrial Courier communicated with a high-ranking source in the domestic space industry, which, as part of the discussion (no one has yet canceled it), criticized the decision: “The proposed adaptation of the Angara-A5B launch vehicle "For the manned and lunar programs, if implemented, would prove to be unreasonably expensive and would hardly meet the declared NTS intention to take into account the real possibilities of state financing."
According to the MIC source, “with this approach, expeditions into deep space turn into absurdity, since only to support the lunar landing mission in the 15-year period will be required about 40 launches of the Angara-A5B launch vehicle,” and this provided that it will be able to put the declared 35 tons into low orbit. No rocket-space industry can withstand such a load. It’s a road to nowhere, a dead end. ”
"For comparison: the implementation of a similar mission will require up to eight launches of 75-ton carriers for the aforementioned 15 cycle," added the interlocutor of the Military-Industrial Courier. - According to the calculations, three 75-ton launches mean the formation of a manned complex in orbit. This is once in 15 years. And five more launches to support these missions. ”
“Modification of A5B means that the rocket will use all the same five universal rocket modules that are operated in the existing version of the A5 carrier. Whatever they put “from above” doesn’t mean that they will enter 35 tons, ”the source believes. He referred to the experts, according to which the maximum carrying capacity for the Angara-A5 (“missiles of the 21st century” in Roscosmos terminology. - Approx. “MIC”) based on the mass ratio of the payload and carrier (2,5%, for comparison: the “missiles - carriers of the last century "in the terminology of Roskosmos" Zenit "and" Proton "it is 3,1%, in the RN" Soyuz "- 2,7%, in the RN" Energy "was 4,4%) - 25 tons. The improvement variant of the Angara-A5V contradicts the general trend in world rocket science, where it is being relied on to increase the carrying capacity of carriers, the interlocutor of the “MIC” noted. And he recalled: "By and large, the superheavy carrier with a carrying capacity of 70 – 80 tons is needed by Russia and the USA not only for deep space, but also to ensure national security, since only such a carrier guarantees at least parity in the fight for the information space.”
Then a press conference followed, at which the head of the Roscosmos NTS, Yury Koptev, tried to dot the i. Attention was drawn to the fact that the faces declared by the press service of Roskosmos, in particular the chief designer of RSC Energia Nikolay Bryukhanov, did not come to her.
Who are the judges?
At the press conference, several questions related to the NTS itself, because journalists were interested in who was accepting such recommendations. A word to Yury Koptev: “The NTS is representative enough. When we held the last meeting, we only have doctors of science more than 40 people. And it is not only representatives of the rocket and space industry. Sufficiently high representation of customers for space activities from the Ministry of Defense, Academy of Sciences. "
He noted that "the decisions of the NTS are advisory in nature, but since this is a kind of consolidated opinion of all the main participants in space activities, including the customer, they can be the basis for making executive and policy decisions."
The journalists, in turn, reminded the head of the NTS that just a year and a half ago, at a similar meeting, the head of Roscosmos, Oleg Ostapenko, declared that Angara was hopeless. Then no member of the NTS objected to him. “A year and a half has passed, and no one within these walls (the press conference was held in the Roskosmos building) argues that Angara has become promising,” the colleague ironically remarked. Koptev’s answer turned out to be the following: “I wasn’t here a year and a half ago” (he was appointed head of the NTS of Roskosmos in December 2014 of the year. - Note. “MIC”).
In any case, there is no clarity as to who personally accepted the recommendations from March 12. On the Roscosmos website, the NTS is missing. Maybe a military secret? The “extreme” report on the meeting of the Roscosmos NTS refers as much to August 25 as 2010. Then the NTS, chaired by Roskosmos head Anatoly Perminov (a saint for journalists in his openness!), Discussed the draft design of a new-generation space rocket complex “Rus” for the Vostochny space center, later closed by Vladimir Popovkin in favor of Angara again, although “ Russia "would be more competitive.
Compare point of view
The development of launch vehicles based on the development of heavy Angara-A5В 35 tons lifting capacity does not meet the needs of Russia, recommended by the Roscosmos Scientific and Technical Council of Roskosmos: “A high-level source in the Russian rocket and space industry said: low Earth orbit payloads of mass 16 – 18 tons (among them - the future manned spacecraft) and 75 tons. 35-ton media is unable to solve these problems. ”
By the way, the same Yuri Koptev at a press conference noted that in December last year, three of our cooperations - led by RSC Energia, led by Samara RCC Progress, and headed by GKNPC named after MV Khrunichev - presented their proposals for the vision of the further construction of super-heavy rockets. According to the speaker, they differed in technical solutions, slightly in characteristics, but on the whole it was about the same. “The commission, headed by Alexander Ivanov, First Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, reviewed all this. She pointed out in her conclusions that the most promising is the variant proposed by RSC Energia, which is built on the intellectual reserve left over from the Energia launch vehicle and is focused on four-chamber RD-170 / 171 engines and restoring the production of Voronezh hydrogen RD engines “0120,” said the head of the NTS.
According to his version, after evaluating and comparing with what we actually have in terms of resources, a recommendation was issued to look for other options. Again, according to Yuri Koptev, the Khrunichev Center came up with such an alternative, who suggested entering the Angara-A5B as part of the development of the Angara line.
The question arises: was there any alternative at RSC Energia? Yes, the source of the "MIC" answers it: "And she was recognized as the best. But the NTS started saying that it was too expensive, although an objective assessment of this project has not yet been carried out. ” According to the expert, the alternative version of RSC Energia provided for the creation of an evolutionary medium-to-super-heavy carrier line on the basis of competitive X-Rum-800 / 170 171-toner engines. Moreover, this line would close all possible loads on the next 50 – 70 years and ensure Russia's leadership in the market.
As one of the main advantages of "Angara-A5V" Koptev calls the fact that it is all built from transported modules, that is, they can be transported by rail. While the design of any super-heavy carrier is built on the fact that the second stage will be created directly at the Vostochny cosmodrome, for which it is necessary to build a plant capable of making steps of dimension 7 – 8,5 meter (diameter). At the same time, the total cost of the program for creating a super-heavy carrier was estimated by Koptev at 700 billion rubles, and the possible implementation period is 2028 a year. However, as it turned out, the words about the “thick” second stage dealt specifically with the “Angara”, and not the super-heavy rocket, and he shifted this obvious shortcoming from a sick head to a healthy one. "Angara-A5V" - an illustration of a well-forgotten old. Because even in the 1999 – 2000 years, in the continuation of the development of the Angara system, a third-stage version was discussed. And in the heavy direction, the 50-ton rocket was considered, in which the second oxygen-hydrogen stage was offered with the exit for transport dimensions. This was recalled by the head of the NTS.
His opponent responds: "The RSC Energia variant allows solving the problems of removing up to 85 tons without hydrogen (an oxygen-hydrogen block. - Approx." MIC ") on four-meter-in-diameter modules." Recall: for "Angary-A5B" requires an oxygen-hydrogen block with the appropriate ground infrastructure. RSC Energia focuses on the resources that are available. There are plants in Russia - Progress RCC, Krasmash, in the end, the Khrunichev Center, whose infrastructure can be used to produce such missiles. The diameter, as suggested, is the 4,1 meter, ”emphasizes the interlocutor of the“ MIC ”.
He is confident that if you want to implement the entire line you can quickly and relatively inexpensively, since it will be made from what is already there. “First you need to make an energy-K 16-ton rocket for a new manned ship. Then comes the three-module "Energy-3K" - this is already 36 tons. If we put five modules in the package, then we get the 75-tonne "Energy-5K", all this without hydrogen, that is, there is no need to build anything extra. We put six modules - this is “Energy-6K”, which will be able to output 86 tons. Thus, it is possible to leave five years to the left (from the term for creating a super-heavy carrier called Koptev. - Approx. "MIC"), and hydrogen can be effectively mastered in the future as needed, ”the expert believes.
By the way, the problem of delivering a “thick” second stage to the cosmodrome could have been solved differently - to use sea transport. But this option would be realizable if, at the time, when choosing the location of the new cosmodrome, preference was given to Sovetskaya Gavan or Irkutsk.
The interlocutor of the "MIC" explained why it is necessary to hurry up and have time to make an extra-heavy carrier over the next five years, rather than postponing the matter indefinitely: "Americans are now actively working on creating an extra-heavy carrier, since it will allow them to be put into space in the fight for the information space. They are now making SLS carriers with the original 70 tonnes carrying capacity, ready for launch in the 2018. It is designed for special missions, and for deep space. By 2025, they plan to reach 130 tons. In order to participate equally in space exploration, including distant space, we need to have super-heavy media with a carrying capacity of at least 75 tons in the next five years, otherwise we will have to replant our programs with American funds. ”
Yuri Koptev himself called the problem areas of the development of Angara-A5B: “Our recommendations instructed that these issues should be worked out in a sufficiently serious cooperation deeper than the advance project. This is a question of forcing the 150 engine from 40 tons to 77 tons (Voronezh says it can be done). This is a question of a short-term boost of the 191 engine ... There are quite serious questions about the finalization of the launch infrastructure. " But, according to the head of the NTS, "it all fits into the plans and schedules, especially when it is understood that for the Angara we still intend to make a second launcher."
The source of the MIC answers: “RSC Energia’s proposal is based on engines that have competitive advantages, they already exist, and you don’t need to spend anything on them.” “Where did they get 700 billion rubles? - he wonders. “Even when it comes to super-heavy media with a load capacity of 130 tons, if you create it on the basis of the RD-170 / 171 engine, we can fit in much smaller amounts and terms.”
Another proposal of the NTS is as follows: “To recommend Roskosmos to consider the possibility of including in the project of the FKP before 2025 work on the creation of rocket engines using liquefied natural gas for use in new space complexes, including with a reusable ultralight class launch vehicle”. “There is no need to abandon the work on the super-heavy carrier, and we issued a recommendation that today we should continue to develop the scientific and technical groundwork in terms of creating new materials, including even seeing some exotic things that the world is doing today. This is the development of an engine in which liquefied natural gas is used as fuel, that is, what Americans are studying today in this area, ”Koptev commented.
His opponent is against this: “The specific impulse of the engines on methane is about 380 seconds, and on kerosene - 375, that is, the difference in a fraction of a percent. Why should the garden fuss? Methane - liquefied natural gas. Its density is two times more than kerosene. Therefore, with identical volumes, fuel tanks with methane will be noticeably heavier, which multiplies some minor advantages by zero, and the system’s explosion hazard increases significantly. ”
“It is very beneficial for us to have kerosene at the bottom (in the first stage), it is cheap and clean,” the expert is sure. “Glushko (General Designer of Rocket Engines. - Approx.“ MIC ”), it all went through, analyzed and left us the best solutions.”
By the way, there was an inaccuracy in the words of Yuri Koptev. The RSC Energia version allegedly suggested using the RD-0120 engine. According to a number of experts, the restoration of its production is impossible because of the irretrievable loss of key technologies remaining “behind the hill”, which gave rise to criticism of this option. “But RSC Energia never counted on RD-0120. She staked on the Voronezh promising oxygen-hydrogen 40-ton RD-0124 engine. It appears on the 3 stage, and depending on the load, you can vary their number, ”said the interlocutor of the“ MIC ”.
The Military-Industrial Courier presented two different points of view on the problem: in which direction should Russia develop its launch vehicles. Outlines the arguments of both sides. In this case, the truth is hardly in the middle - it simply can not be there. And it must be determined in order for domestic launch vehicles to be competitive and to provide asymmetric responses to emerging global challenges, as required by the head of state.
What would you like to know more? Probably the following: how much has the personal staff of the NTS changed over the past year and a half? And was 12 March expressed at least one dissenting opinion, as is customary in the industry if there are dissent?
In any case, those who already very soon have to make the most important decisions should once again weigh the pros and cons. "MIC" in turn will try to present the reader with a point of view on the subject of discussion of the most authoritative specialists and veterans of the industry.
While the number was put on. Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the task of working on a super-heavy rocket. The launch of such a launch vehicle should be designed for the Vostochny space center. After listening to the head of Roskosmos, Igor Komarov, who reported on new projects related to Angara, including the heavy class, the head of state stressed: "It was heavy and so was envisaged, we must talk about a super-heavy rocket."
All debates about how to develop the domestic space program in the near future may have been stopped by 12 in March, when the Scientific and Technical Council of Roscosmos, just headed by industry veteran Yury Koptev (before him, the place was traditionally “reserved” for the head of the Federal Space Agency) made a fateful decision - to recommend to the executive authorities to forget for a while about the development of an extra-heavy launch vehicle capable of putting a payload of up to 75 tons into low-Earth orbit and focusing on wake up on improving the heavy version of the Angar launch vehicle with a payload of up to 35 tons.
As you know, one of the initial versions of the yet unapproved Federal Space Program (FKP) for 2016 – 2025 provided for the creation of a super-heavy class launch vehicle. It was about 75 tonnes carrying capacity (at the first stage) "in order to launch new-generation spacecraft into high near-earth orbits, as well as to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and other bodies of the Solar System."
Let us pay attention to the words “in order to launch spacecraft of a new generation into high near-earth orbits”. A few hints of what kind of devices will be made with reference to the Americans below.
Why did the NTS make such a decision, and without competition, although there would be a lot of money at stake? Why wasn’t a public discussion, which in theory should precede even recommendatory conclusions? Until the final decision is made, the Military-Industrial Courier gives the floor to those who uphold the position of the Roscosmos NTS and those who strongly disagree.
But first - a little stories and officialdom.
Even during the active work of the Joint Commission of Roscosmos and NASA (it was formed in 1994 as the Utkin-Stafford Commission, and later renamed Anfimov-Stafford) in 2009, it was determined that taking into account future payloads and possible interaction during future missions in deep space, both Russia and the United States need launch vehicles with a payload of up to 18 tons and 70 – 80 tons with the prospect of reaching 130 tons. The United States has the first and is confidently moving in the second direction - their SLS (Space Launch System) super-heavy carrier with an initial payload of 70 tons must make the first flight at the end of the 2018 of the year. Russia intended to follow the same path. But…
As reported by the press service of Roskosmos from 12 March, the agency NTS, "taking into account the real possibilities of state financing of the projects of the Federal Space Program to 2025 of the year (it has not yet been accepted, there is only a project. - Approx." MIC ") and the Federal Target Program for the Development of Space Centers before the 2025 of the year (such does not exist at all, the current federal target program is calculated until the end of 2015 of the year. - Note. "MIC"), as well as the need for the priority development of the Russian orbital group, decided to recommend to the Khrunichev Research and Production Center (GKNPTs), together with the Energia rocket and space corporation (RSC), to develop an advance design of the Angara-A5B launch vehicle with its possible adaptation with promising transport and manned ships and other payloads for to fly to the near-moon space and to the surface of the moon. "
Later, the head of the NTS explained that this recommendation was taken primarily from financial considerations (according to his data, the change in the value of the ruble led to the fact that the increase in the cost of each space project was about 27%), and also due to the fact that “today and in the foreseeable future, no payloads are visible, except for flights to the Moon or to Mars, which would require such a class of carriers. ” (What about the “new generation spacecraft”?)
At the same time, it was claimed that the GKNPTs made an alternative development of the launch vehicles that they wanted to see in Roscosmos. The center proposed the development of the Angara-A5 launch vehicle in the Angara-A5В, which provides for the use of universal rocket modules (URM) with existing single-chamber RD-193 engines on oxygen and kerosene at the first and second stages and replacing the third stage with oxygen - hydrogen.
“Such a rocket will be able to bring 35 – 37 tons into low orbit,” said Yuri Koptev. According to him, the cost of developing such a rocket will amount to 37 billion rubles, while a number of complex technical problems have to be solved, as well as to create an infrastructure at the cosmodrome for working with oxygen-hydrogen booster, including the launch complex on the Vostochny (Amur region). The head of the NTS argued that such a rocket could be created by 2022 year.
Such a recommendation — huge amounts of money will be spent on its implementation should an appropriate decision be made — should be implemented on a competitive basis, with the right and opportunity for all parties to state and prove their position. However, one wonders: recently in Roskosmos it has become the rule to hold contests without a contest - it is worth remembering the latest appointments. As one of the failed applicants for the high position of the head of one of the agency’s structures explained, the rocket specialist was advised to withdraw from the “contest” in which a person far from the industry had “won”.
Starting deadlock
For starters, we estimate for the money. For the Angara-A5B launches, it will be necessary to build a second launch complex at the Vostochny cosmodrome (the first in Plesetsk). But one more recommendation of the Roscosmos NTS is as follows: “... consider the possibilities of state financing of the rocket and space industry enterprises for scientific and technical reserves, promising technologies, main systems and units for creating a space rocket complex with a super-heavy launch vehicle for research of the Moon and Mars and other planets of the solar system. " So, the super-heavy carrier will still be, but later? And in the East will have to build another launch complex? How, then, with the money? After all, it is obvious that two complexes will cost much more than one. Therefore, many experts polled by "MIC" are unanimous that it is necessary to build only one launch complex at the East under a really promising carrier.
Photo: naked-science.ru
Immediately after the publication of the recommendations of the Roskosmos NTS, the Military-Industrial Courier communicated with a high-ranking source in the domestic space industry, which, as part of the discussion (no one has yet canceled it), criticized the decision: “The proposed adaptation of the Angara-A5B launch vehicle "For the manned and lunar programs, if implemented, would prove to be unreasonably expensive and would hardly meet the declared NTS intention to take into account the real possibilities of state financing."
According to the MIC source, “with this approach, expeditions into deep space turn into absurdity, since only to support the lunar landing mission in the 15-year period will be required about 40 launches of the Angara-A5B launch vehicle,” and this provided that it will be able to put the declared 35 tons into low orbit. No rocket-space industry can withstand such a load. It’s a road to nowhere, a dead end. ”
"For comparison: the implementation of a similar mission will require up to eight launches of 75-ton carriers for the aforementioned 15 cycle," added the interlocutor of the Military-Industrial Courier. - According to the calculations, three 75-ton launches mean the formation of a manned complex in orbit. This is once in 15 years. And five more launches to support these missions. ”
“Modification of A5B means that the rocket will use all the same five universal rocket modules that are operated in the existing version of the A5 carrier. Whatever they put “from above” doesn’t mean that they will enter 35 tons, ”the source believes. He referred to the experts, according to which the maximum carrying capacity for the Angara-A5 (“missiles of the 21st century” in Roscosmos terminology. - Approx. “MIC”) based on the mass ratio of the payload and carrier (2,5%, for comparison: the “missiles - carriers of the last century "in the terminology of Roskosmos" Zenit "and" Proton "it is 3,1%, in the RN" Soyuz "- 2,7%, in the RN" Energy "was 4,4%) - 25 tons. The improvement variant of the Angara-A5V contradicts the general trend in world rocket science, where it is being relied on to increase the carrying capacity of carriers, the interlocutor of the “MIC” noted. And he recalled: "By and large, the superheavy carrier with a carrying capacity of 70 – 80 tons is needed by Russia and the USA not only for deep space, but also to ensure national security, since only such a carrier guarantees at least parity in the fight for the information space.”
Then a press conference followed, at which the head of the Roscosmos NTS, Yury Koptev, tried to dot the i. Attention was drawn to the fact that the faces declared by the press service of Roskosmos, in particular the chief designer of RSC Energia Nikolay Bryukhanov, did not come to her.
Who are the judges?
At the press conference, several questions related to the NTS itself, because journalists were interested in who was accepting such recommendations. A word to Yury Koptev: “The NTS is representative enough. When we held the last meeting, we only have doctors of science more than 40 people. And it is not only representatives of the rocket and space industry. Sufficiently high representation of customers for space activities from the Ministry of Defense, Academy of Sciences. "
He noted that "the decisions of the NTS are advisory in nature, but since this is a kind of consolidated opinion of all the main participants in space activities, including the customer, they can be the basis for making executive and policy decisions."
The journalists, in turn, reminded the head of the NTS that just a year and a half ago, at a similar meeting, the head of Roscosmos, Oleg Ostapenko, declared that Angara was hopeless. Then no member of the NTS objected to him. “A year and a half has passed, and no one within these walls (the press conference was held in the Roskosmos building) argues that Angara has become promising,” the colleague ironically remarked. Koptev’s answer turned out to be the following: “I wasn’t here a year and a half ago” (he was appointed head of the NTS of Roskosmos in December 2014 of the year. - Note. “MIC”).
In any case, there is no clarity as to who personally accepted the recommendations from March 12. On the Roscosmos website, the NTS is missing. Maybe a military secret? The “extreme” report on the meeting of the Roscosmos NTS refers as much to August 25 as 2010. Then the NTS, chaired by Roskosmos head Anatoly Perminov (a saint for journalists in his openness!), Discussed the draft design of a new-generation space rocket complex “Rus” for the Vostochny space center, later closed by Vladimir Popovkin in favor of Angara again, although “ Russia "would be more competitive.
Compare point of view
The development of launch vehicles based on the development of heavy Angara-A5В 35 tons lifting capacity does not meet the needs of Russia, recommended by the Roscosmos Scientific and Technical Council of Roskosmos: “A high-level source in the Russian rocket and space industry said: low Earth orbit payloads of mass 16 – 18 tons (among them - the future manned spacecraft) and 75 tons. 35-ton media is unable to solve these problems. ”
By the way, the same Yuri Koptev at a press conference noted that in December last year, three of our cooperations - led by RSC Energia, led by Samara RCC Progress, and headed by GKNPC named after MV Khrunichev - presented their proposals for the vision of the further construction of super-heavy rockets. According to the speaker, they differed in technical solutions, slightly in characteristics, but on the whole it was about the same. “The commission, headed by Alexander Ivanov, First Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Space Agency, reviewed all this. She pointed out in her conclusions that the most promising is the variant proposed by RSC Energia, which is built on the intellectual reserve left over from the Energia launch vehicle and is focused on four-chamber RD-170 / 171 engines and restoring the production of Voronezh hydrogen RD engines “0120,” said the head of the NTS.
According to his version, after evaluating and comparing with what we actually have in terms of resources, a recommendation was issued to look for other options. Again, according to Yuri Koptev, the Khrunichev Center came up with such an alternative, who suggested entering the Angara-A5B as part of the development of the Angara line.
The question arises: was there any alternative at RSC Energia? Yes, the source of the "MIC" answers it: "And she was recognized as the best. But the NTS started saying that it was too expensive, although an objective assessment of this project has not yet been carried out. ” According to the expert, the alternative version of RSC Energia provided for the creation of an evolutionary medium-to-super-heavy carrier line on the basis of competitive X-Rum-800 / 170 171-toner engines. Moreover, this line would close all possible loads on the next 50 – 70 years and ensure Russia's leadership in the market.
As one of the main advantages of "Angara-A5V" Koptev calls the fact that it is all built from transported modules, that is, they can be transported by rail. While the design of any super-heavy carrier is built on the fact that the second stage will be created directly at the Vostochny cosmodrome, for which it is necessary to build a plant capable of making steps of dimension 7 – 8,5 meter (diameter). At the same time, the total cost of the program for creating a super-heavy carrier was estimated by Koptev at 700 billion rubles, and the possible implementation period is 2028 a year. However, as it turned out, the words about the “thick” second stage dealt specifically with the “Angara”, and not the super-heavy rocket, and he shifted this obvious shortcoming from a sick head to a healthy one. "Angara-A5V" - an illustration of a well-forgotten old. Because even in the 1999 – 2000 years, in the continuation of the development of the Angara system, a third-stage version was discussed. And in the heavy direction, the 50-ton rocket was considered, in which the second oxygen-hydrogen stage was offered with the exit for transport dimensions. This was recalled by the head of the NTS.
His opponent responds: "The RSC Energia variant allows solving the problems of removing up to 85 tons without hydrogen (an oxygen-hydrogen block. - Approx." MIC ") on four-meter-in-diameter modules." Recall: for "Angary-A5B" requires an oxygen-hydrogen block with the appropriate ground infrastructure. RSC Energia focuses on the resources that are available. There are plants in Russia - Progress RCC, Krasmash, in the end, the Khrunichev Center, whose infrastructure can be used to produce such missiles. The diameter, as suggested, is the 4,1 meter, ”emphasizes the interlocutor of the“ MIC ”.
He is confident that if you want to implement the entire line you can quickly and relatively inexpensively, since it will be made from what is already there. “First you need to make an energy-K 16-ton rocket for a new manned ship. Then comes the three-module "Energy-3K" - this is already 36 tons. If we put five modules in the package, then we get the 75-tonne "Energy-5K", all this without hydrogen, that is, there is no need to build anything extra. We put six modules - this is “Energy-6K”, which will be able to output 86 tons. Thus, it is possible to leave five years to the left (from the term for creating a super-heavy carrier called Koptev. - Approx. "MIC"), and hydrogen can be effectively mastered in the future as needed, ”the expert believes.
By the way, the problem of delivering a “thick” second stage to the cosmodrome could have been solved differently - to use sea transport. But this option would be realizable if, at the time, when choosing the location of the new cosmodrome, preference was given to Sovetskaya Gavan or Irkutsk.
The interlocutor of the "MIC" explained why it is necessary to hurry up and have time to make an extra-heavy carrier over the next five years, rather than postponing the matter indefinitely: "Americans are now actively working on creating an extra-heavy carrier, since it will allow them to be put into space in the fight for the information space. They are now making SLS carriers with the original 70 tonnes carrying capacity, ready for launch in the 2018. It is designed for special missions, and for deep space. By 2025, they plan to reach 130 tons. In order to participate equally in space exploration, including distant space, we need to have super-heavy media with a carrying capacity of at least 75 tons in the next five years, otherwise we will have to replant our programs with American funds. ”
Yuri Koptev himself called the problem areas of the development of Angara-A5B: “Our recommendations instructed that these issues should be worked out in a sufficiently serious cooperation deeper than the advance project. This is a question of forcing the 150 engine from 40 tons to 77 tons (Voronezh says it can be done). This is a question of a short-term boost of the 191 engine ... There are quite serious questions about the finalization of the launch infrastructure. " But, according to the head of the NTS, "it all fits into the plans and schedules, especially when it is understood that for the Angara we still intend to make a second launcher."
The source of the MIC answers: “RSC Energia’s proposal is based on engines that have competitive advantages, they already exist, and you don’t need to spend anything on them.” “Where did they get 700 billion rubles? - he wonders. “Even when it comes to super-heavy media with a load capacity of 130 tons, if you create it on the basis of the RD-170 / 171 engine, we can fit in much smaller amounts and terms.”
Another proposal of the NTS is as follows: “To recommend Roskosmos to consider the possibility of including in the project of the FKP before 2025 work on the creation of rocket engines using liquefied natural gas for use in new space complexes, including with a reusable ultralight class launch vehicle”. “There is no need to abandon the work on the super-heavy carrier, and we issued a recommendation that today we should continue to develop the scientific and technical groundwork in terms of creating new materials, including even seeing some exotic things that the world is doing today. This is the development of an engine in which liquefied natural gas is used as fuel, that is, what Americans are studying today in this area, ”Koptev commented.
His opponent is against this: “The specific impulse of the engines on methane is about 380 seconds, and on kerosene - 375, that is, the difference in a fraction of a percent. Why should the garden fuss? Methane - liquefied natural gas. Its density is two times more than kerosene. Therefore, with identical volumes, fuel tanks with methane will be noticeably heavier, which multiplies some minor advantages by zero, and the system’s explosion hazard increases significantly. ”
“It is very beneficial for us to have kerosene at the bottom (in the first stage), it is cheap and clean,” the expert is sure. “Glushko (General Designer of Rocket Engines. - Approx.“ MIC ”), it all went through, analyzed and left us the best solutions.”
By the way, there was an inaccuracy in the words of Yuri Koptev. The RSC Energia version allegedly suggested using the RD-0120 engine. According to a number of experts, the restoration of its production is impossible because of the irretrievable loss of key technologies remaining “behind the hill”, which gave rise to criticism of this option. “But RSC Energia never counted on RD-0120. She staked on the Voronezh promising oxygen-hydrogen 40-ton RD-0124 engine. It appears on the 3 stage, and depending on the load, you can vary their number, ”said the interlocutor of the“ MIC ”.
The Military-Industrial Courier presented two different points of view on the problem: in which direction should Russia develop its launch vehicles. Outlines the arguments of both sides. In this case, the truth is hardly in the middle - it simply can not be there. And it must be determined in order for domestic launch vehicles to be competitive and to provide asymmetric responses to emerging global challenges, as required by the head of state.
What would you like to know more? Probably the following: how much has the personal staff of the NTS changed over the past year and a half? And was 12 March expressed at least one dissenting opinion, as is customary in the industry if there are dissent?
In any case, those who already very soon have to make the most important decisions should once again weigh the pros and cons. "MIC" in turn will try to present the reader with a point of view on the subject of discussion of the most authoritative specialists and veterans of the industry.
While the number was put on. Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the task of working on a super-heavy rocket. The launch of such a launch vehicle should be designed for the Vostochny space center. After listening to the head of Roskosmos, Igor Komarov, who reported on new projects related to Angara, including the heavy class, the head of state stressed: "It was heavy and so was envisaged, we must talk about a super-heavy rocket."
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