SOVIET SHUTTLE FOR SPACE STATION ROLE.

The Soviet Union's space program relies to a large extent on technologies developed 15 to 20 years ago. Their philosophy has always been to gradually improve existing equipment, rather than design completely new hardware. However, with the new Energia launcher and the soon-to-be introduced Soviet shuttle, the Russians are introducing space hardware of a truly new design into their manned program for the first time since 1971. With 4000 tons thrust, Energia is more powerful than the US Saturn V rocket. On its first flight, Energia employed four strap-on boosters, running on kerosene/oxygen. There is room for four more on the central core. Thus, Energia will be able to put into orbit much heavier structures than the basic 100 ton version. With eight boosters and an adapted core with third stage and payload on top, Energia could put into orbit modules with an 8-m diameter and a mass of up to 200 tons. In the four-booster configuration, Energia can carry to orbit the Soviet shuttle.