|
|
|
    
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amur-SPG launch vehicle Special section written and illustrated by Anatoly Zak; Editor: Alain Chabot In the 2020s, Roskosmos attempted to develop a partially reusable rocket propelled by methane engines and intended to replace the Soyuz family of rockets.
The Amur-SPG rocket as of 2026:
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DEVELOPMENT HISTORY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Despite budget cuts at the end of 2015, the Russian government promised to give the go ahead to the development of a new launcher family, which could finally replace the medium-class Soyuz and Zenit rockets. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
2021: Roskosmos begins preliminary design of a returnable rocket (INSIDER CONTENT) In the early 2020s, Russian engineers initiated the design of the methane-propelled rocket in an effort to build a reusable launch system aiming to compete with American rockets and similar vehicles emerging in China. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
2023-2024: Returnable rocket enters Technical Design (INSIDER CONTENT) In 2023, the Russian project of a reusable methane-burning rocket, called Amur-SPG, reached the Technical Design phase, which is the second stage in the development of a vehicle on the drawing board after the preliminary design, according to Russian standards. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
2026: Project slows down (INSIDER CONTENT) Roskosmos reported some progress in the Amur-SPG project tasked with the development of a partially reusable replacement to the Soyuz family of rockets, even though the debut of the rocket slipped to the 2030s. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AMUR-SPG TECH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
From the publisher: Pace of our development depends primarily on the level of support from our readers! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
New engine paves the way to reusable launcher (INSIDER CONTENT) Specialists at the KBKhA propulsion center in Voronezh began manufacturing components of an experimental methane-burning engine, which is considered a major step toward a returnable booster stage.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Launch facility for Amur-SPG (INSIDER CONTENT) Starting in 2023, Roskosmos began planning facilities for the Amur-SPG rocket (INSIDER CONTENT) which was expected to include a launch pad and at least two landing sites downrange from Vostochny for its reusable first stage. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
