MOSCOW. Nov 5 (Interfax) - Work on a prospective superheavy-lift rocket system is proceeding as scheduled, the press service of the Rocket Space Corporation Energia said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The presented results of a sketch design of the superheavy-class space rocket complex conform to the requirements of the technical specification and the master plan approved by the general director of the Roscosmos state corporation, [Dmitry] Rogozin, in December of last year," the press service said.
The creation of the rocket was discussed by the corporation's scientific-technical council tasked with considering the sketch design, it said.
"The council resolved to approve the results of the sketch designs of the superheavy-class space rocket complex and its parts and submit them with the state corporation Roscosmos," the statement reads.
The first tests are due to begin in 2028. The new rocket, which is being created around the Soyuz-5, will have an 88-tonne lifting capacity and be able to deliver up to 20 tonnes payload to the circumlunar polar orbit. This will make it possible to begin manned flights to the Moon, including manned and cargo transport ships, descent-ascent ships and the modules of circumlunar orbital stations.