The first stage boosters and two core stages feature uprated engines with improved injection systems, compared to the previous versions of the Soyuz.
The first stage booster is made of advanced carbon composite materials to provide high mass fraction.
In 2009, the company manufactured a total of 25 launch vehicles, upper stage boosters and spacecraft, while in 2005 the figure was 11.
The first stage booster can be refueled and launched again, allowing improved reliability and lowering the cost of human access to space.
The first stage booster of the missile is entirely designed and manufactured by Avio of Italy.
Super-Jupiter was the first stage booster only; to place payloads in orbit, additional upper stages would be needed.
Named Pegasus, it would have had a lighter, simplified guidance section and a short third stage booster.
The idea was modified later to use a first stage booster such as the Navajo missile.
When the dream has reached its crest ad just before it breaks up, we'll cut in a second stage booster.
It no longer uses balloon tanks nor 1.5 staging, but incorporates a rigid framework for its first stage booster, much like the Titan family of vehicles.
