Russia is planning to develop a new carrier rocket by 2015 while continuing the work on the Angara family of space boosters, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
The Rus-M carrier rocket is being developed by the Energia space corporation, to launch new-generation spacecraft from the Vostochny space center currently under construction in the country's Far East.
"We are planning to start test-launches of light and heavy Angara rockets in 2013, and develop the Rus-M carrier rocket by 2015," Putin said during his annual address to parliament.
A draft model of Rus-M was first presented at the MAKS 2009 air show in Moscow.
The launch vehicle faces strict safety requirements, and will have to guarantee a takeoff or ensure a continuous flight or an ejection with a safe landing even with one of its engines is out of action.
Energia corporation has already received about 800 million rubles ($28.5 mln) of budget funds for the Rus-M project.
The two-stage Rus-M is expected to be the main launch vehicle for the Prospective Piloted Transport System, a new manned spacecraft which is to replace the Soyuz rocket.
MOSCOW, April 20 (RIA Novosti)
