MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. The project of developing a Russian super-heavy carrier rocket with a cargo capacity of 70-80 tons may cost 700 billion rubles ($12 billion), Chairman of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Yuri Koptev said on Tuesday.
"The creation of a new super-heavy rocket [with the carrying capacity of 70-80 tons] will require 700 billion rubles. The year 2028 is a declared position [for the rocket development]. Prior to that, a financing schedule has to be drawn up," he said.
The Roscosmos Scientific and Technical Council has recommended that efforts should be continued to create potential for the rocket development based on new technologies, Koptev said, adding an engine could be developed for the super-heavy rocket, which would use liquefied natural gas as fuel.