Yenisei, the new super-heavy launcher by Roscosmos
– News of February 12, 2019 –
On February 4, 2019, Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Rogozin, the director of Roscosmos, spoke of a super-heavy launcher to go to the Moon, called Yenisei. It will use elements of Soyuz 5 and Angara to limit development costs. Yenisei could be launched for the first time in 2028, at the same period as the Chinese and Americans want to develop their presence on the Moon.
We do not have much information yet on this mysterious giant rocket. Studies and concepts show a first stage of Soyuz 5. The upper stages would come from the Angara program. Such a design would allow 70 tons to be placed in low orbit, which would make it possible to start considering a lunar travel. Obviously, even with elements recovered from other space programs, this new development may be very expensive if Russia wants to have the same ambitions as China and the United States. The success or failure of this super-heavy launcher could be directly influenced by the health of the Russian economy over the next decade.
Logo by Roscosmos
