Russia plans to replace Ukrainian rocket engine

The first tests of a new Zenit rocket are scheduled for 2024.

Russia and Kazakhstan have agreed on the details of a project to replace the Ukrainian Zenit carrier, the assembly of which was carried out by Yuzhmash, with a Sunkar rocket, Izvestia wrote. The experts are working on a rocket within the scope of the Baiterek project, Kazakhstan having previously agreed to the Russian proposal.

Sunkar will differ from Zenit in the design of the second stage. The RD-120 engine produced in Ukraine for the second carrier will be replaced in the first rocket with the Russian RD-124a unit, currently used on the Soyuz 2.1b rocket. The Sunkar rocket has more launching mass than the Zenit; 398 tons compared with the Zenit’s 320. The increase is due to additional fuel mass for the first stage. The mass of the payload launched into low support orbit has also increased – from 13.7 to 17 tons.

The first tests of the Sunkar are scheduled for 2024 and commercial launch is scheduled for 2025. RUB 30 billion was allocated to the project by the Federal Space program for 2016–2025 and will be provided to the Sunkar rocket beginning in 2018. The Kazakh partners have promised to invest in the construction of the launching ground. On July 1, it was reported that Russia renamed the Dnieper rocket-carrier ‘Baikal’ and refused to participate with Ukraine in the launch of the rocket.

The Russian Space Agency’s refusal to order rockets from the Dnieper enterprise Yuzhmash means a revenue loss of 80% for the plant.

  Russia, Ukraine

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