Strela Launch Vehicle

From the decree No12-r of the Russian Federation Government dated January 5, 1999:

“Accept proposal of Ministry of Defense and RSA on building space rocket complex of Strela type at cosmodrome Svobodniy.

Agree with suggestion of RSA to include works on building space rocket complex Strela in the Russian Federal Space Program at the expense of non-budget funds.”

General Director of NPO Mashinostroenie, G. A. Efremov said:

“As a result of persistent and laborious works with Ministry of Defense, RSA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economics, and Ministry of Finance of Russia, management of NPO Mashinostroenie was able to prove the need for building Strela space rocket complex and also, for preservation and development of Svobodniy cosmodrome. The outcome was Chairman of the Russian Government signing the Government decree No12-r.

NPO Mashinostroenie repeatedly proposed and successfully implemented projects on creation of completely new items, many of which could be referred to as ‘first time’ developments. For instance, NPO participated in development and design of world’s first maneuvering satellites, flying bombs, and missiles with folding wings.

Underlying this document is a fundamentally new position, when the scientific production enterprise and not a federal department, is responsible for not only building launch systems, which the country really needs today, but also for maintaining space rocket complex with the corresponding cosmodrome infrastructure.

NPO Mashinostroenie expects a significant economical effect from implementation of the decree provisions and, first of all, from commercial uses of spacecraft. NPO’s management is sure that the employees of the enterprise will take this new, important task with understanding and required responsibility and, as before, will succeed.”

Government’s decree on building Strela space rocket complex (SRC) is very important, but is still just one link in the chain of events and efforts undertaken by NPO Mashinostroenie to implement the projects, which allow NPOMash extend its life.

According to the START treaty and joint declarations of US and Russian Presidents on parameters of reduction in nuclear weapons in future (Helsinki, March 21, 1997), by December 31, 2007, the number of Russian ICBMs, RS-18 on active duty had to be reduced from 160 to 105 missiles.

Thus, in a very short period of time, a significant number of RS-18 missiles in perfect conditions had to be liquidated and salvaged. START-1 and START-2 allow liquidation of ICBMs by converting them into space vehicles that could be used for payload deployment to the upper layers of atmosphere or space.

Performed by the Russian specialists, technical and economic analyses of different ways of ICBMs liquidation illustrated that conversion of missiles into launch vehicles is the most acceptable way of ICBMs salvaging. This was reflected in the Russian Government’s decree dated October 22, 1992 “on rational use for national economy of rocket complexes that are subject to liquidation in accordance with START reductions and restrictions” and in “federal program oriented at industrial salvaging of arms and military equipment in the time frame up to 2000,” approved by the Government decree dated May 25, 1994. In this federal program, NPOMash was assigned as the main contractor of RS-18 conversion into launch vehicle, later named Strela. This launcher has a bright future since it is used with orbital constellations and separate small spacecraft that today help solve many scientific and commercial tasks.

Today, Russian small spacecraft are deployed by Kosmos-3, Tsiklon-2, and Tsiklon-3 launch vehicles that are launched from Baikonur and Plesetsk. These vehicles were made in the beginning of 1960s and are used even today without any significant changes. Needless to say, they became obsolete, with operation period close to exhaustion. That is why, under current conditions, building Strela KSC is an issue of state importance, even though there are no funds for this purpose in the federal budget.

Under these tough circumstances, NPOMash took the responsibility to find non-budget funds for implementation of the project, which would enable Russia to be appropriately represented in the world market of different types of spacecraft launch services.

During the past three months, federal executive organs have adopted laws concerning implementation of Strela project. Strela launch vehicle is designated for spacecraft deployment to earth orbits and launch of craft with its consequent flight in Earth atmosphere. The important element of Strela project development is keeping main features of the base complex. Thus, the silo-based universal launch system has been retained. Silo of Strela is the same as that of RS-18. By the same token, first and second booster stages and transport launch canister are not being altered.

Technical solutions allow using payload as the upper stage of RS-18 service module with the operational system of missile control. At the same time, ground segment of control and aiming system is also kept with almost no changes. The only new element is the measuring equipment compartment, included in payload and accommodated for telemetry and tracking equipment, first and second stage engines abort system, additional system of stabilization in passive flight areas, and onboard power sources. Payload can be equipped with fairing of two types—RS-18 ICBM operational fairing (KGCh-1) and enlarged fairing (KGCh-2), used in test launches of RS-18.

Universal Silo 1-protective layer 2-head fairing 3-equipment compartment 4-canister with the launch vehicle 5-launch pad shaft 6-technological protective device

Implementation of ICBM conversion into the launcher makes the launcher very reliable due to high performance of RS-18 and also makes Strela project economically attractive and technically ready for completion.

In the world market, Strela can provide services for commercial payload launches, thus complementing service of such foreign launchers as Pegasus XL, Taurus, Athena, Long March 1D, ASLV, Shavit, VLS.

For deployment of Strela, a multi-purpose service module of small spacecraft with payload mass up to 250 kg was developed at NPOMash. Proposals on using the launcher for deployment of small spacecraft with plasma thrusters to asteroids, solar system planets, libration points, and to geostationary orbits for the scientific and space communications purposes have been prepared. In addition, Strela is capable of carrying out suborbital launches as well as launches of aeroballistic craft to the upper layers of Earth atmosphere.

Potential market for commercial satellite launches constitutes, according to various estimates, about 500-1500 spacecraft launches, planned for the nearest future. At the same time, successful participation in commercial launches depends on location of SRC. For Russia, the most favorable location for ‘light’ launch vehicles launch is Svobodniy cosmodrome, which can provide insertion of spacecraft to orbits with inclination in the ranges of 51-63^o and 90-98^o, including sun-synchronous orbits. Analysis of commercial launches market illustrates that maximum demand is generated for the launches in the exactly above-mentioned ranges.

Relationship between the payload mass and altitude of the orbit On the vertical axis: mass of the spacecraft on orbit, in kg On the horizontal axis: altitude, in km

In 1997, to assess the possibility of using infrastructure of Svobodniy for Strela SRC accommodation, reconnoitering was performed at the cosmodrome. The results were positive. Tracking and telemetry facilities provide solutions for necessary tasks. Today, Svobodniy is the cheapest in terms of maintenance costs cosmodrome in Russia.

Experience in Iridium telecommunications system deployment illustrated the need for replacing orbital constellation craft as soon as any technical problems arise. This need makes Strela irreplaceable in space business.

What NPOMash needs to do in this field is to correctly position itself and start commercial usage of Strela as soon as possible.

Svobodniy cosmodrome (2^nd State Test Cosmodrome of Ministry of Defense) was created according to the presidential decree No305, dated March 1, 1996. The purpose was implementation of Russian programs on use of area, where Strategic Rocket Forces division was formerly positioned.

This site was built in 1964-1970 in order to put ICBMs designed by V.N. Chelomey

on combat duty. After START-1 was signed, these ICBMs were retired.

It is planned to build Strela complex on the base of existing silos, buildings and mobile technological equipment. Existing complex will be just slightly re-equipped.

Plans for the first stage developments (1999-2000) are as follows:

• Redesign one silo to provide launches of Strela. Silos of RS-18, that are now being retired according to Strategic Rocket Forces program, will be used for this purpose.
• Reconstruct propellant load system of launcher, design technical systems of launcher and spacecraft with accordance to international standards.
• Introduce mission control unit, coordinating space-oriented launches
• Install lacking mobile units and equipment

During the next stages until 2010, it is necessary to redesign one or two more silos in order to provide for possible launches of both domestic and foreign spacecraft.

For NPOMash, 1999 is the year of finding solutions for such complicated problems as search for investors, beginning of works at the cosmodrome, negotiations with Republic of Sakha-Yakutia on location of debris impact area, and working out together with the administration of Amur oblast a program on region’s development.

In the end of 1998, during the business meeting between the Director of Department of Economic Potential Assessment and Forecast, A.C.Suslov, and management and specialists of NPOMash, General Director of NPOMash, G.A.Efremov, told about efforts that the organizations is putting on creating Strela as well as on preserving and using Svobodniy cosmodrome.

Russian federal government, NPOMash, and Amur oblast are all interested in successful utilization of Svobodniy as it will accelerate and simplify solutions of many organizational, economical, technical, and social problems.