Irtysh (rocket)

Irtysh

Soyuz-5 (on the right)
Function	Orbital Launch Vehicle
Manufacturer	JSC SRC Progress RKK Energia
Country of origin	Russia
Project cost	61.2 ₽ billion
Size
Height	61.9 m (203 ft) (uncrewed) 65.9 m (216 ft) (crewed)
Diameter	4.1 m (13 ft)
Mass	530,000 kg (1,170,000 lb)
Stages	3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	18,000 kg (uncrewed) 15,500 kg (crewed)
Payload to GTO
Mass	5,000 kg (11,000 lb)
Associated rockets
Comparable	Zenit-2, Proton-M, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Atlas V 541, Ariane 5 ES, H-IIB, Long March 5
Launch history
Status	In development
Launch sites	Baikonur Baiterek
First flight	2025 (planned)[1]
First stage
Height	37.14 m (121.9 ft)
Diameter	4.1 m (13 ft)
Empty mass	27,700 kg (61,100 lb)
Propellant mass	363,000 kg (800,000 lb)
Powered by	RD-171MV
Maximum thrust	7,257 kN (1,631,000 lbf)
Specific impulse	309 seconds (3.03 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
Second stage
Height	7.77 m (25.5 ft)
Diameter	4.1 m (13 ft)
Empty mass	5,900 kg (13,000 lb)
Propellant mass	59,000 kg (130,000 lb)
Powered by	2 × RD-0124MS
Maximum thrust	294.3 kN (66,200 lbf)
Specific impulse	359 seconds (3.52 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
Third stage – Blok DM-03 (optional)
Height	6.28 m (20.6 ft)
Diameter	3.7 m (12 ft)
Propellant mass	18,700 kg (41,200 lb)
Powered by	RD-58MF
Maximum thrust	49.03 kN (11,020 lbf)
Specific impulse	353 seconds (3.46 km/s)
Propellant	RP-1/LOX
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Irtysh (Russian: Иртыш),^[2] also named Soyuz-5 (Russian: Союз-5), formerly codenamed Fenix in Russian and Sunkar (Kazakh: Сұңқар, lit. 'falcon') in Kazakh, is a planned Russian rocket that is being developed by JSC SRC Progress within the "Project Feniks" (Russian: Феникс, lit. 'phoenix'). Initially it will replace the capability of Zenit-2 and Proton Medium, and in the future will serve as the base of a super heavy-lift launch vehicle rocket (Yenisei) to match the Energia/Buran capabilities. As of August 2023^[update], Irtysh is expected to launch from the Baikonur Baiterek, the ex Zenit-2 launch site, in a partnership with the government of Kazakhstan, with a planned debut in December 2025.^[1][3]

The current proposal is led by JSC SRC Progress, with support by Khrunichev and Makeyev, additionally, RSC Energia would handle the launch site, and supply the Blok DM-03, while Roscosmos would finance the development through the Project Fenicks under the 2016–2025 Russian space master plan. KazCosmos would also be a partner since the initial launch pad would be at Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 45 in Kazakhstan, within the framework of the Baiterek bi-national joint venture, and International Launch Services (ILS) would commercialize its services for the international market.^[4][5]

The initial application of the launch vehicle would be to cover the under 5 t (5.5 tons) to GTO commercial launch segment. With the loss of the Zenit-3SLB due to Russian conflicts with Ukraine, both the decision not to develop Angara A3 and launch Angara A5 from Vostochny, the Baiterek project was without a launch vehicle. The 2016 announcement of the Proton Medium and Light meant that ILS could enter the medium GTO launch market, but since the Kazakh government desired to deprecate the use of highly toxic hypergolic propellants used by Proton, they would need a replacement.^[4][5]

For this commercial application, JSC SRC Progress proposed the Soyuz-5 in early 2016. It would start with this commercial application with the prospect of also enabling a super heavy launcher with a 80 t (88 tons) payload capability to low Earth orbit.^[4][5] The Kazakh side agreed on the general terms, but the investment share was left to decide. As part of the 2016 arrangements, the Kazakh government would get ownership of one of the Proton launch pads, and participate in the operations of Proton-Medium and Proton-Light.^[6] Then, they would get to participate in the Irtysh launchers since its expected debut in 2024.^[3] As of August 2023 further delays in the construction of the launch site and in the development of the rocket pushed the date of the maiden flight to December 2025.^[1]

Four test launches are planned before the development is considered complete.^[7]

Development of the Irtysh is expected to face delays, as the necessary modification of the launch pad at Site 45 for launching the Irtysh has been delayed, starting only in late 2021.^[8] International sanctions following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine further slowed operations. In July 2022, Dmitry Rogozin, then CEO of Roscosmos, admitted that construction would be postponed by six months to one year.^[8]

In March 2023, it became public that the Baiterek Kazakh-Russian joint venture in charge of the site had seized the facility after filing a claim of about 2 billion rubles (30.3 million US-Dollar) to TsENKI, a Roscosmos subsidiary in charge of handling ground-based infrastructure, as Roscosmos had failed its obligation to conduct an environmental impact assessment of Site 45, causing additional delays.^[9]

Soyuz-5, as proposed in 2016, leverages existing propulsion and tooling, while enabling a platform that would replace the lost capabilities of the Zenit family, replace the Proton Light/Medium, and could serve as the boosters of a new super heavy rocket. It will initially be a two-stage rocket, but could be enhanced with an optional Blok DM-03 for geostationary missions. It would be compatible with most of the Zenit's ground infrastructure, and even use the Site 45 at Baikonur.^[5]

Its tanks would be 4.1 m (13 ft) in diameter, which would enable the re use of Proton tooling. Since they would be wider than Zenit, (3.9 m (13 ft)) it would enable a higher propellant load for the same height. While this diameter enables a heavier rocket and is already compatible with train transport to Baikonur, it would prevent that method of transport for Vostochny Cosmodrome. It would use the relatively environmental friendly RP-1/LOX propellant, which would be an improvement over the highly toxic hypergolics of Proton. This has been a requirement from the Kazakh government for new projects.^[4][5]

The first stage would be powered by an RD-171MV, very similar to the RD-171M used in Zenit 2 and 3. With a height of 37.14 m (121.9 ft) it would be higher than Zenit's first stage (32.94 m (108.1 ft)) and wider, and thus it could carry 363 t (400 tons) of propellant versus 290 t (320 tons). Its base would still feature a 3.68 m (12.1 ft) aft section for compatibility with Zenit's pad and support infrastructure.^[4][5][10]

Its second stage would measure 7.77 m (25.5 ft) by 4.1 m (13 ft) in diameter, with a dry mass of 5.9 t (6.5 tons) and an RG-1/LOX load of 59 t (65 tons). It would be powered by two RD-0124MS engines, each having four nozzles arranged in a semicircle. So, two engines would feature eight total nozzles close to the rocket perimeter, forming a circle. This arrangement would minimize the stage length, while keeping the engines' excellent specific impulse.^{[4][5][10][11]}

With a gross mass of 484 t (534 tons) against Zenit 430 t (470 tons), and the improved efficiency of its second stage, it could launch 16 t (18 tons) to a 200 km circular orbit with an inclination of 51.6° to the Equator from Baikonur. This is a significant improvement over Zenit, which could only place roughly 12 t (13 tons) to the same orbit.^{[4][5][10][12]}

For geostationary launch missions, it could optionally be equipped with a Blok DM-03 third stage. Since it would use the same propellant and is already used on the Zenit-3SL and Angara A5, it would be a low risk option.^[4][5] The expected performance of 4.5 t (5.0 tons) to GTO and 2.3 t (2.5 tons) to GSO, it would improve over Zenit-3SLB 3.6 t (4.0 tons) and 1.59 t (1.75 tons).^[5][13][10]

The Irtysh first stage could be used as the boosters (and even core) of the super heavy rocket Yenisei capable of launching 73 t (80 tons) to low Earth orbit from Baikonur or Vostochny. Improving the performance to 120 t (130 tons) and even 160 t (180 tons) was considered possible with this architecture. While the current 2016-2025 plan for deep space exploration calls for the use of the heavy Angara 5V, it would just enable 36 t (40 tons), requiring up to four launches for a single Moon mission, and would also require the use of expensive hydrogen as fuel. The Yenisei would simplify the mission while using readily available Irtysh first stages.^{[14][5][10][12]}

• Proton-M – Russian heavy lift launcher which uses hypergolic fuel
• Zenit rocket family – Soviet (now Ukrainian) RP-1/LOX fueled rocket, for satellite launch
• Soyuz-7 rocket family – Proposed reusable Russian rocket designPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Angara – Russian family of space launch vehicles
• Rus-M – Canceled Russian proposal for a crewed launch vehicle

• Anatoly Zak's page on the Sunkar