Russia will fly into space on household gas

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In Russia, work has begun on creating a promising rocket engine using methane as fuel. Why is household gas methane considered the most promising?


It is known that the old space carrier Proton has been using heptyl since Soviet times. It has good characteristics, but is very toxic. Inhalation of its vapor causes death. After the Proton launches from Baikonur, large amounts of money have to be paid to the government of Kazakhstan for cleaning the territory, which is the reason for the gradual abandonment of this launch vehicle. Significantly safer from an environmental point of view, kerosene is used on the American Falcon 9 and on the Angara rocket created in Russia. This fuel is energy-intensive, low-toxic and relatively inexpensive. But it is believed that the highest potential for applications in rocket engines of hydrogen and methane.



In terms of energy efficiency, methane ranks between kerosene and hydrogen, but has the lowest cost due to its availability. Methane can be obtained from natural gas widely extracted in Russia and even from renewable sources, such as livestock waste. It is not surprising that the idea of ​​using household gas for space travel has been considered for a long time.

In the United States, this topic is being actively explored by private space companies. For example, SpaceX Ilona Mask is testing a Raptor methane engine, while Jeff Basos' Blue Origin plans to introduce a BE-4 methane engine on its New Glenn rocket.

Roscosmos Corporation is not going to lag behind American competitors. NPO Energomash has begun work on the creation of a Russian methane rocket engine:

The engine was called RD-169. This is actually a new engine, created on the basis of the knowledge that we have formed since the beginning of the 2000s


The process will use the best practices and experience gained during the creation of the RD-0146 engine. It is expected that it will be possible to test the domestic novelty in 3-4 years.
  • https://www.roscosmos.ru/
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5 comments
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  1. 0
    1 August 2018 14: 38
    In 3-4 years we will lag behind merikos. We have just begun work on the creation, and their engines have already been created and are being tested.
    1. 0
      1 August 2018 17: 24
      Everything must be done on time. But better late than never.
    2. +1
      2 August 2018 14: 49
      We have just begun work on the creation, and their engines have already been created and are being tested.

      You do not know topics.
      RD-0162 - an oxygen-methane rocket engine developed since 1997. It is being developed at the KBHA within the framework of the Federal Space Program for 2016-2025, the chief designer is Viktor Gorokhov. Liquefied natural gas is used as fuel, and liquid oxygen is used as an oxidizing agent. Designed for use as a marching engine in reusable launch vehicles. Advantages are: ease of use, environmental friendliness, the possibility of reusable use. A draft of 200 tons is planned. In December 2016, a successful test engine demonstrator. As of the end of October 2017, a series of fire tests of the RD-0162D2A oxygen-methane engine with a thrust of 40 tons took place.
      What about the Americans? September 25, 2016 Ilon Musk announced the successful first engine starts at the test bench. And then silence.
      We at least do not lag behind.
  2. -1
    2 August 2018 10: 26
    They shouted about the "Angara" - it is not. The super-heavy rocket was launched ten times - it is not even in the blueprints. Where is the Federation ship? He was again pushed into the back.
    For 30 years, the USSR has gone from the first satellite to the super-heavy "Energia" and "Buran", landed spacecraft on Venus and the Moon, created its own space station. We were the first - and now we are trailing behind the USA, Europe, China, India, Japan are advancing on the heels ... And there will be no methane-fueled rockets either. Returnable rivets Thank you, phony "Doctor of Engineering" Mr. Rogozin! Saw, Dima, Saw!
    1. 0
      2 August 2018 14: 57
      Hey there, which the minus sign blurted out: what, don't like it? But essentially have something to say? You, gentlemen, have pumped up the legacy of the USSR without creating anything new - just keep silent in a rag.