49M Top/Bottom Views

The 49M was an application of the system 49 air-launched design concept, but with a larger carrier aircraft. The orbiter mass was 28 metric tons in orbit, including a 9 metric ton payload in a 8.0 m x 3.3 m diameter payload bay.

The system would have a 770 metric ton gross takeoff mass. The orbiter/rocket stage combination weighted 370 metric tons. The tripropellant single rocket stage was equipped 1 x NK-43 / 11D112 engine burning Lox/Kerosene and 2 x RD-57 / 11D57 engines burning Lox/LH2. The orbiter could have one or two crew, and was designed for 100 reuses. Development costs for the new heavy lift aircraft and larger orbiter would be too high, and the design was abandoned in favor of the Bizan concept.

Crew Size: 1. Mass: 28,000 kg (61,000 lb). Payload: 9,000 kg (19,800 lb). Associated Launch Vehicle: System 49-M.