The Failed Soviet Falcon and the "Energia-2" Reusable Super-Heavy Rocket Project

The Soviet Union had its own developments of a two-stage heavy launch vehicle, all components of which could return to Earth

The emergence of the Falcon 9 reusable launch vehicle was a real breakthrough in rocket engineering. By reducing launch costs, it opened up new horizons in space exploration and demonstrated the reality of creating reusable rocket systems. This, in turn, stimulated the emergence of many startups working on similar projects. Interestingly, the ideas of reusable rockets existed before, in particular, in the USSR in the 1980s.

"Energia-2" general view
Image source Буран

In the early 1980s, an ambitious project was launched to create one of the most advanced space technologies of the time - the Energia-2 reusable transport system, also called "Uragan". The main idea was to develop a two-stage heavy launch vehicle, all components of which could return to Earth. This approach was designed to significantly reduce the cost of space launches compared to traditional disposable rockets.

Design and features

"Energia-2" included:

four side boosters of the first stage, equipped with kerosene engines, which were planned to be returned to Earth for reuse. To do this, they had to either land on parachutes or land at an airfield, like the central block

a second stage in the form of an orbital spacecraft, outwardly resembling "Буран", but with a number of differences

the side reusable stage became the basis of the idea of the reusable booster (MRU) "Baikal", the first stage of the Angara launch vehicle. Developed at the GKNPTs named after Khrunichev together with NPO Molniya
Image source Буран

The spacecraft was planned with three main engines and an orbital stabilization system. Its design provided for a wingspan of approximately 26 meters and the ability to carry up to 40 tons of cargo. The lower part of the hull was designed with enhanced thermal protection, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1500 °C when entering the atmosphere. Upon completion of the mission, the spacecraft was to independently return to Earth, landing at a standard airfield with a reinforced runway.

second stage - spacecraft
Image source Буран

The project incorporated ideas that were subsequently reflected in other developments, in particular, in the Baikal reusable booster for the Angara rocket, created by the efforts of GKNPTs named after Khrunichev and NPO Molniya.

The fate of the project

By the end of the 1980s, the Energia-2 project was at the stage of preliminary design studies, but its further development was interrupted by the collapse of the USSR. Despite this, Energia-2 serves as evidence that Soviet cosmonautics, long before the appearance of similar systems in other countries, had already explored the possibilities of creating reusable space projects, but something went wrong.

Earlier www1.ru reported that in The US gavea negative assessment of the Russian rocket "Soyuz-5"