The first Soyuz-2 launch vehicle, which uses only naphthyl as fuel, will be launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome after 2020. This is reported by the RIA Novosti online publication, referring to statements by the management of the RCC Progress.
Naphthyl is an environmentally friendly type of hydrocarbon fuel with the addition of polymer additives. It is planned to use this fuel in Soyuz engines instead of kerosene.
The use of naphthyl will not only improve the ecological situation, but also increase the efficiency of launching payloads to all types of Earth orbits.
As reported, the first launch of the Soyuz-2 rocket using naphthyl in engines of all stages will be carried out from Vostochny no earlier than 2021. It should be emphasized that naphthyl has already been used in the course of launching rockets from the new Russian cosmodrome, but only on the third stage engine.
Meanwhile, Roskosmos reported on the volume of production of rocket and space technology in 2016-2018. It is reported that the total number of spacecraft, launch vehicles and upper stages manufactured in 2016 amounted to 20 pieces. In 2017, 21 products were produced, and in 2018 this figure increased to 26 units.
Source: 3dnews.ru