Photo: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
NK-33A engine made by Samara-based UEC-Kuznetsov of United Engine Corporation ensured the start of advanced Russian small-lift rocket - Soyuz-2.1b - from the Plesetsk cosmodrome. The propulsion worked without any failures.
The rocket was launched on February 9 at 10:03 from the launcher at the Plesetsk cosmodrome located in Arkhangelsk Region. This is the 12th launch of a small-lift launch vehicle equipped with NK-33A propulsion.
UEC-Kuznetsov service center personnel and design engineers were involved in the preparation of the launch vehicle for the start and also observed the engine operation in flight. The NK-33A worked properly and successfully carried the launch vehicle to the intended orbit.
The domestic flight development test (FDT) program for new Soyuz-2.1b rocket with NK-33A engine was started on December 28, 2013, and completed on July 10, 2019, with five successful launches. All tasks within FDT were fulfilled to the full extent, normal operations are now performed to carry the payload to orbit.
