Russian aerospace design specialists NPO Molniya Research & Industrial Corporation and Myasishchev Design Bureau are reportedly designing a hypersonic pilotless space plane that could launch small satellites, according to documents seen by state news…
Russian aerospace design specialists NPO Molniya Research & Industrial Corporation and Myasishchev Design Bureau are reportedly designing a hypersonic pilotless space plane that could launch small satellites, according to documents seen by state news agency RIA Novosti.
The sub-orbital plane, currently dubbed Hammer, is being designed to provide space tourism services as well as lift satellites weighing up to 800kg into low earth orbit.
The plane is said to be based on existing technology such as the Su-27 fighter jet and the RD-0124 rocket engine used on the Soyuz.
As with other sub-orbital space planes that are currently being developed, the Hammer will piggyback on a larger vehicle, in this case either the high-altitude Myasischev M-55 or 3M-T transport aircraft. Hammer would then separate in order to climb to altitude of approximately 120km.
According to RIA Novosti, the design is at an advanced stage but there are no details regarding how the project would be funded.
NPO Molniya has worked on a number of flagship Russian space projects having been established for the Buran space shuttle programme. In the late 1960s the company was central to the design of a secret space plane named Spiral.