Rus-M

Rus-M

Rus-M Design Concept
Function	Human-rated orbital launch vehicle
Manufacturer	TsSKB-Progress
Country of origin	Russia
Size
Height	61.1 m
Diameter	3,5 m (Main Core)
Mass	233,000 - 1,440,000 kg
Stages	2 - 3
Capacity
Payload to LEO	6,500 - 50,000 kg
Launch history
Status	Cancelled
Launch sites
Total launches	0
First stage
Engines	3 RD-180
Thrust	4.15 MN (933,400 lbf) each
Specific impulse	338 sec
Fuel	LOX / RP-1
Second stage
Engines	4 RD-0146
Thrust	392.4 kN
Specific impulse	463 sec
Fuel	LOX / LH2

Rus-M was a proposed launcher design which was intended to become Russia's main launch vehicle for crewed spaceflight after 2018, and an integral part of the Prospective Piloted Transport System which included a new manned spacecraft being developed to replace the Soyuz.

Rus-M was being developed by TsSKB-Progress, beginning in 2009. The program was halted in October 2011; "We have come to the conclusion that we do not need a new rocket, we can continue using those we already have," said Vladimir Popovkin, head of Russia's space agency, according to the Novosti news agency.

In spring of 2009, TsSKB-Progress won a government contract to develop a new launcher for Russia's human space program. The project was featured in MAKS 2009 Airshow, and preliminary design of the vehicle was expected to be submitted to the Russian space agency Roscosmos by August 2010.

Safety requirements put forward by Roscosmos emphasized that the launcher design is to be extremely reliable; safe abort options for crewed vehicles must be available at any stage of flight, and vehicle departure from the launch pad must be guaranteed for the case of an emergency during an early stage of the launch sequence. The launcher was planned to provide a basis for a future heavy launcher capable to carry a payload of 50—60 tons, as well as for a super-heavy design lifting 130—150 tons.

Four variants of Rus-M were planned for development. Each version would use a variable number of common cores as the first stage and boosters, each powered by a single Energomash RD-180 rocket engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen. Two upper stages were planned. The first would have used four RD-0146 hydrolox engines developed by Chemical Automatics Design Bureau. The second option would have been a kerosene fueled stage common with Soyuz-2.