The Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology Corporation (MIT, part of Roscosmos) is developing the Start-1M super-light launch vehicle for Roscosmos. The first launch of the Start-1M project rocket will take place in the near future.
This was announced to journalists by Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia Denis Manturov.
Currently, super-light disposable rockets are being developed in the interests of both the Ministry of Defense and Roscosmos. In the interests of Roscosmos, JSC "MIT Corporation" is developing the Start-1M rocket. The planned launch date is 2026.
Manturov did not say whether there is foreign participation in this project.
Rocket "Start-1"
"Start-1" is a four-stage launch vehicle created on the basis of the intercontinental ballistic missile "Topol" using the technology of the medium-range ballistic missile "Pioneer". It, like other rockets of this family, was developed at the STC "Complex-MIT".
This solid-propellant carrier was intended to deliver spacecraft to low Earth orbits for government organizations and commercial structures. The purpose of such devices was quite peaceful: the deployment of space satellite communication systems, remote sensing of the Earth, and environmental control. However, the possibility of launching military satellites into orbit was also envisaged.
According to data from open sources, the "Start-1" rocket was a 47-ton version of "Topol" without military elements. On top, it was equipped with an additional fourth upper stage and a finishing stage with a satellite.
Such a rocket could launch a spacecraft weighing 250 kilograms into an orbit with a height of more than 700 kilometers. "Start-1.2" was a modification of "Start-1" with some design differences, but with the same payload capacity. Both of these rockets could be launched as needed from the mobile launcher of the Topol complex. The third, reinforced version of the rocket called "Start" involved five stages, a weight of about 60 tons, and the ability to launch a payload of up to 1000 kilograms into space.
From March 1993 to April 2006, seven launches of the Start family of rockets were carried out, six of which were successful and launched civilian and military spacecraft into orbit. Five Start-1 rockets were launched into the sky, and one copy each of the Start and Start-1.2 rockets.
However, the project was then curtailed by rocket scientists. According to data from open sources, one of the reasons was that the "Starts" had insufficient payload capacity and their use was not economical.
Thirteen years later, in February 2019, Roscosmos announced that it was assessing the possibility of resuming rocket launches under the Start-1 program. In October of the same year, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Saudi investment company TAQNIA signed an agreement on the modernization of Start-1 during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Riyadh.
Russia and KSA planned to invest in the modernization of the launch vehicle project, design and manufacture additional parts that the rocket would need after modernization. After that, "Start-1" was to begin working for the benefit of both states, launching satellites of partner countries into low Earth orbits.
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