The creation of a new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle will restore Russia's status as a leading space power, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said Friday.
KOROLEV (Moscow Region) (Pakistan Point news / Sputnik - 31st August, 2018) The creation of a new Soyuz-5 launch vehicle will restore Russia's status as a leading space power, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said Friday.
"A unique technically complex task will have to be solved, but its implementation will restore and consolidate Russia's status as the world's leading space power," Borisov said in the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation at the opening of a meeting on prospects of manned spaceflights.
Borisov recalled that the flight tests of the new-generation Federation manned transport spacecraft on the Soyuz-5 medium-range carrier rocket should be done from the Baikonur cosmodrome in automatic mode in 2022, and in manned mode in 2024.
"In addition, the corporation [Energia] is to lay the foundation for future manned programs for in-depth space exploration ... RSC Energia was assigned to be the lead developer of the super-heavy lift launch vehicles," Borisov said.
Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, Progress Rocket Space Centre (RSC) and the Center for Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Operation (TsENKI) jointly work on the creation of the Soyuz-5 launch vehicle.
The Soyuz-5 is expected to deliver to orbit Russia's new Federation spacecraft, designed to deliver up to four people and cargo to the Moon and space stations in low Earth orbits. The first unmanned test flight of the Federation has been scheduled for 2022, while the maiden manned flight is expected in 2024.
The government instructed Roscosmos State Space Corporation to draw up an up-to-date strategy for the development of the industry, Borisov said.
"These are specific instructions related to updating the strategy for the space industry's development and elaboration of an updated scientific and technical program," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pays great attention to the development of the space industry, Borisov said.
"It is the pride of our country, but today, I must say straight, it is not in the best condition," he noted.
Borisov recalled that the president had two meetings on this issue in recent months.
In late May, Roscosmos top management was renewed, with former Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin becoming its chief.
