Business & GA

A five-year, €200 million ($269 million) Franco-Russian future launcher research project is under way after the two nations' space agencies signed a co-operation agreement in Paris last week.

The research will focus on a technology demonstrator for a recoverable first stage that would fly up to 10 times following refurbishment after each launch. It would be the first phase in a proposed replacement for the European Ariane 5 ECA launcher and would enter service by 2020. Russian and French researchers will work on developing liquid oxygen and methane engines for the first-stage booster.

"With 80t of thrust at sea level it would carry 40t of propellant onboard, possibly use wings and perhaps even a turbofan so it can fly back," says Christoph Bonnal, senior programme manager for future launchers for France's CNES space agency.

ROB COPPINGER/LONDON