Russia could soon sign a contract with a...
already has a $1.9 billion contract with NASA for eight cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS) from 2011 through 2015.Aerojet purchased approximately 40 of the NK-33 engines in the mid-1990s and, under contract with Orbital. The company is currently modifying the engines specifically for the first stage of the Taurus II launcher.
Ron Grabe, Orbital"s executive vice president and general manager of its launch systems group, said after the tests that the success of the NK-33 engine tests in Russia was an important step forward in the development of the Taurus II.
According to estimates, the U.S. companies will need more than 70 NK-33 engines in 2016-2020.
Nikitin said SNTK has about 40 engines in storage but would have to restart production if the U.S. contract is signed.
The resumption of production would cost the company about 4 billion rubles (over $135 million), the official said.