Photo: United Engine Corporation
RD-107А/108А and NK-33A rocket engines manufactured by Samara-based UEC-Kuznetsov of United Engine Corporation ensured 17 starts of Soyuz type space launch vehicles from Baikonur, Vostochny and Plesetsk cosmodromes in 2023.
RD-107А/108А engines were used on stages I and II for 15 rocket starts (as part of Soyuz-2.1а and Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicles), and NK-33A engine was used on stage I in two cases (to launch Soyuz-2.1v small-lift launch vehicle). These launch vehicles were used to carry spacecraft of Roskosmos (including loads and space missions to the International Space Station), Ministry of Defence of Russia, and commercial satellites to orbit.
UEC engines ensured delivery of Space Mission 70 and 71 crews to the International Space Station in 2023.
A landmark launch took place on 27 June from Vostochny cosmodrome – a group of 40 Russian and foreign satellites was sent to orbit. Simultaneous launch of such number of Russian satellites was a record-breaking event in the Russian space research history. On 11 August, Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with Luna-25 automatic station was launched from Vostochny Cosmodrome – Russia’s first lunar lander mission since 1976. A total of three space rockets with UEC engines were launched from the cutting-edge Russian cosmodrome.
