No doubt stimulated by SpaceX’s development of the Falcon 9R and the European proposal to build a reusable stage for the Ariane 6, Sputnik News reports that Russia is to design and build new winged first stage for a partially reusable rocket. The winged stage dubbed the MRKS which translates as Reusable Space Rocket System will be built by Khrunichev. The system which will be financed during the period 2021 to 2025. The development will cost a reported US$185 million.
Russia has studied and developed reusable launch vehicle systems and boosters before – most notably the Buran space shuttle which flew once, and the Baikal reusable booster stage though that never became operational.
