Work on the creation of the Yenisei super-heavy launch vehicle, designed for flights to the Moon, has never stopped. This was stated by the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin during a visit to NPO Automatics in Yekaterinburg.
“In fact, the work on the creation of a strategic space transport system has never stopped. Technically, we are ready to start creating a super-heavy rocket right now, the elements of a super-heavy rocket are obvious, ”Rogozin said (quoted by TASS).
Earlier today, RIA Novosti, citing Dmitry Baranov, Director General of the Rocket and Space Center (RSC), reported that Russia had abandoned the development of a super-heavy rocket for a flight to the moon. The agency quoted Baranov as saying that the Progress RCC had indeed stopped work on the STK Elements, although he also admitted that, with the appropriate decision of Roskosmos, the work could be resumed.
The RCC developed a rocket commissioned by Roscosmos based on the Soyuz-5 and Soyuz-6 missiles powered by the RD-171MV and RD-180MV oxygen-kerosene engines. The RCC was supposed to develop key elements and technologies for creating a super-heavy space rocket complex.
In December 2020, it was reported that Roskosmos suspended the development of the Yenisei super-heavy lunar rocket, which was planned to be completed by 2028. The head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin then announced on Facebook that the rocket project would be revised to use more breakthrough technologies – it is planned to use methane instead of oxygen and kerosene. In January 2021, the Space Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences recommended postponing the creation of the rocket. In February, Baranov announced that its technical design was suspended due to possible changes in its appearance.
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