Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Towards dawn on the 25-ton “Angara” – BBC

From the Plesetsk cosmodrome first launched the latest Russian rocket “Angara” in severe cases. In the future, it should replace the rocket “Proton” for launches into geostationary orbit into deep space and to the moon.

This morning with the Plesetsk cosmodrome at the first attempt the launch rocket “Angara- A5 “heavy version of the missile, which was developed in Russia for the last 20 years. It is expected that with the upper stage “Breeze-M” dimensions and weight layout weighing 2 tons will be placed in geostationary orbit, then it is reduced to her and sunk in the ocean.

The first launch of a light version of the rocket “Angara-1.2pp” took place on 9 July this year. The creation of this missile began in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the Baikonur Cosmodrome was on the territory of sovereign Kazakhstan and it became clear that this does not meet the needs of the cosmodrome in Russia launches critical:

available since the 1960s heavy rocket” Proton “could only start from Baikonur.

Therefore, a new missile, which was required to collect the full details of the Russian, it was decided to launch from Plesetsk. September 15, 1992 was signed by government decree according to which NGOs “Energy” proposed the establishment of a two-stage rocket. She serves as fuel for kerosene oxidizer – oxygen.

However, the construction of the rocket was delayed for 20 years. January 6, 1995 the President signed a decree, according to which the creation of a complex “Angara” is a task of special importance. Parent complex customers are the Ministry of Defence and the Russian Space Agency, the head developer – Khrunichev. MV Khrunichev.

Due to the difficult economic situation in the country in the 1990s, funding for CBC “Angara” was conducted at several times lower than had been foreseen by the decision that led to a significant disruption of the timing of the flight test.

This is partly why the missile is still considered quite expensive: according to some estimates, the cost of its development up 100 billion rubles.

«In essence, the money invested in the project over two decades, repeatedly raised the price of this is not yet the finished media,” – said in the report of the Accounts Chamber of the 2013.

From 1994 to 2005 has been allocated no more than 4% of the funds needed to build the complex.

In all the works of a new family of rockets “Angara” participated sufficiently large number of companies and organizations. Customers create AAC “Angara” are the Ministry of Defense and the Federal Space Agency. Khrunichev. MV Khrunichev – general contractor. “Among the companies – the main contractor of the project can be called TsENKI (included in his Design Bureau of Transport Machinery; KBTM), NPO” Energomash “KBKhA, SPC, etc. AP These are the main companies that are responsible for one or another component of the project. So, KBTM and Spetsstroy – starter, technical complex; NGOs “Energomash” and KBKhA – Engines, NEC AP – control system “, – told” Gazeta.ru “a source at the Khrunichev. MV Khrunichev.

Rocket Design

Infographics: Ray Studio

originally proposed to create a missile is not the only option, but a family of rockets, from mild to severe. Visually, light, medium and heavy missiles differ in the number and arrangement of universal rocket modules that make up the first stage. “Angara-1.2pp” has one URM, A5 – five rocket modules with five RD-191.

This lightweight version of the missile takes into orbit 3.8 tons and A5 – 24.5 tons into Earth and up to 4.6 tons into geostationary orbit (36 thousand. km).

«Launcher” Proton “has a total of ten transportable units, and” Angara “instead of ten blocks has seven blocks. The number of engines at it corresponds to the number of blocks, while the “Proton” engines much more: the first stage – six, on the second – and four in the third – plus two upper stage, “- said” Gazeta.ru “editor magazine “Space News” Igor Afanasyev. “Therefore by the number of boosters and the number of engines” Angara “effective” Proton “- said the expert. According to him, since the main technical solutions in the creation of a rocket launch complex and laid in the early 2000s, technically perfect older rocket “Proton».

If heavy rocket “Proton” uses as toxic heptyl fuel, the kerosene vapor – oxygen, which flies “Angara” is considered less toxic.

When it comes to existing foreign competitors fifth “Angara”, this Delta 4 Heavy version of Atlas 5 rocket and Ariane 5. To date, the cost of start-Atlas 5 starts at $ 150 million, Delta 4 – from $ 150 million to $ 200 million.

«But the missile and not do as a commercial rocket, because we still have” Proton “, it was created primarily for start-ups by the state program. It was only later, when it will be on the tempo starts and will be the second launch facility at Baikonur East, it can become competitive, “- said Afanasiev.

On the advantages of the rocket and its prospects” Gazeta.ru “said a source in the Khrunichev. MV Khrunichev.

«draw attention to two important characteristics. First – load rating, ie the ratio of the weight of the payload to the starting weight fully dressed with missiles. For this indicator, “Angara” is in the very top positions among all the world’s goods in this class.
Second indicator – the coefficient of structural perfection. This ratio of dry weight to the rocket payload derivable. The smaller the dry mass of the rocket, the more effective it is in the breeding of the same payload.

According to this characteristic, we are also at the very top line among the world’s “heavyweights” whether American boosters Atlas 5 and Delta 4 or a European Ariane 5.

None of the family of launch vehicles that are currently being developed and designed earlier abroad, does not pledge the possibility of launching missiles boosters from the lightest to the heaviest. This means that the same elements of the launcher will be demanded in the lung, and the average and heavy classes. This high production. Economic laws more serial production, the less labor and cost price, but higher quality, “- said the expert.

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