The Rocket and Space Corporation Energia is considering the possibility of sending a manned mission to the Moon using four launches of the Angara-A5V carrier rockets. This was announced on February 16 by TASS, citing a source in the rocket and space industry.
“Now in RSC Energia, within the framework of research work, the option of sending a manned mission to the Moon using a four-launch flight scheme is being worked out,” the agency was told.
Such a scheme assumes separate entry into orbit of a promising manned spacecraft, a lunar takeoff and landing complex (LVPK) and two oxygen-hydrogen upper stages (KVTK). In low-earth orbit, the transport vehicle will dock with the orbital station, where the crew will wait for the launch of the KBTK. After that, docking with the booster will be performed in orbit.
At the same time, the lunar take-off and landing complex and one more KBTK will dock in low-earth orbit. Further, the boosters will give impetus to the spacecraft and the complex for a flight to an elliptical orbit, after which they will separate and fly to the Moon.
Angara is a family of Russian launch vehicles ranging from light to heavy. When they are launched, environmentally friendly fuel components are used. The first two launches of the heavy “Angara” took place on December 23, 2014 and December 14, 2020 from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.
On January 13, the RAS Space Council recommended postponing the creation of a super-heavy launch vehicle intended for flights to the Moon. As an alternative to the super-heavy rocket Yenisei, intended for an expedition to the lunar surface, the council proposed using rockets of the Angara family.