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Noded as part of the Spacecraft Information Database Project -- Created 11/13/00
Origins/Status
Alternate Designations:
SL-16,
Type K
Major Contractors:
NPO-Energia
Nation of Origin:
USSR
Used By: USSR; never used by the
Russian Federation
Number in Use:
N/A
Launch Sites:
Baikonur,
Tyuratam
Project Status: Cancelled in 1993
Dimensions
Length (overall): 61.3
meters
Width (overall): approximately 8 meters
Width: 16.0 meters
Gross lift-off weight: 2.4 million
kilograms
Number of engines (Central section): 4
Maximum number of strap-on boosters: 4 (modified
Zenit first-stage booster rockets)
Thrust (
Strap-On Boosters): maximum of 806,000
kg of thrust each
Thrust (Central section Engines): maximum of 200,000
kg of thrust each
Capacity
Maximum payload weight: 100,000
kg
Orbital Range: 180
kilometers
Overview
Development of the Energia-class
expendable launch vehicle (ELV) began in 1976 with the primary goal of
serving as the
heavy-lift booster stage of the
Buran space shuttle. Unlike the
SRBs and
External Fuel Tank used by the American
STS, however,
the Energia was designed to accommodate either an STS-style
orbiter or a non-reusable
cargo canister,
not unlike the American
Shuttle-C design derived from the
STS. Also, the Energia uses four strap-on rockets,
based closely on the
Zenit expendable launch vehicle, rather than the two specially designed SRBs
employed by the American STS. No part of the Energia is intended to be reusable, although some engineers
at
NPO-Energia believed that it may be possible to reuse the strap-on boosters, which were recoverable
and had been fitted with
parachutes.
Development of the Energia continued at the same pace as that of the Buran, until both it and the Buran
were formally unveiled in 1986. In December of that year, the Buran orbiter was attatched to an
Energia ELV, tested briefly and then removed. The first launch of the Energia did not occur until
May 11, 1987. Its payload was the Polyus/Skif-DM satellite --
a prototype laser battlestation.
The second flight of the Energia occurred on November 15, 1988 and carried the Buran into orbit for its
one and only flight. The Energia has not been used since, and the program was cancelled with the Buran in 1993 due to the end of the Cold War and the failing Russian economy.
Credits and Further Reading
Much of the hard data on this page, as well as further information on Russian space projects, can be found
at http://www.mcs.net/~rusaerog/boosters/Energia.html.
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