Spaceflight

Russia’s Federal Space Agency (FSA) plans to launch a competition in 2011 for a vertical take-off, two-stage, partially reusable space transport system (RSTS) that could be operational in the 2020s.

The FSA is open to international co-operation on the RSTS, for which it has conducted conceptual studies. Its concept vehicles RLV-1, -2 and -3, have payload capabilities ranging from 25,000kg (55,000lb) to 35,000kg for low-Earth orbit.

The RLVs, unveiled at last week’s International Astronautical Congress’s European launcher briefing in Valencia, Spain, are based on a common booster design. “The development of this next generation of vehicles is based on the unification of units, systems and rocket stages,” says FSA launcher director Vladimir Bondarenko.

He says Krunichev’s Angara expendable launch vehicles will meet Russia’s space programme objectives with boosters that are more efficient and reliable.