The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThe basic version of the RD-0124 engine designed to replace RD-0110 is a four-chamber unit. The pivot chambers are used to provide launch vehicle control at the third stage leg of the flight. Staying within the same dimensions as they switched over to close-loop configuration with exhaust turbine gas afterburning in the main chambers and increased chamber pressure and nozzle area expansion ratios, engine designers from Voronezh succeeded in raising the specific impulse by as many as 33 units, which is equivalent to adding 950 kg to Soyuz’ payload capacity. The engine has been through a comprehensive cycle of test trials, and preparatory work is going on now to launch batch production at the Voronezh Mechanical Plant.