Газпром подключается к российской ракетной программе «Амур-СПГ» с использованием сверхчистого гелия

Russia is connecting two major projects in the country’s Far East: Gazprom’s giant Amur Gas Processing Plant and the future Amur-СПГ reusable rocket being developed by Roscosmos. The connection involves one of the most unusual requirements of modern launch vehicles — extremely high-purity helium. Gazprom says its Amur facility can produce helium with a purity of 99.9999%, using specialised purification and liquefaction technology. The company is now working with Roscosmos on supplies for the future Amur-SPG rocket program. The Amur rocket itself is being developed around a methane-based propulsion architecture. Unlike conventional rockets that rely on kerosene or other fuels, Amur-SPG is designed to use liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen, with its first stage intended to return for reuse. That makes the connection with Gazprom particularly interesting. The same region that is becoming a major centre for natural-gas processing and helium production could also become the base for Russia’s next generation of reusable launch infrastructure. The Amur Gas Processing Plant near Svobodny is one of Russia’s largest gas-processing projects. Gazprom says the facility is designed to process up to 42 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually and eventually produce up to 60 million cubic metres of helium per year. The plant has already demonstrated production of ultra-pure helium. Gazprom says its first helium purification, liquefaction and filling installation began shipments of helium with a purity of 99.9999% in 2023, followed by a second installation. But why does a methane-powered rocket need helium? Helium is not the rocket's main fuel. Instead, high-purity helium can be used in aerospace systems for functions including pressurisation and pneumatic operations associated with propellant systems and ground infrastructure. For sophisticated launch vehicles, controlling contamination in these systems can be important. The geographical connection is also significant. The Amur Gas Processing Plant and the Vostochny Cosmodrome are both located in Russia’s Far East, creating the potential for a regional industrial ecosystem linking natural-gas processing, helium production and space-launch infrastructure. The Amur project itself has been under development for several years. Roscosmos and the Progress Rocket Space Centre signed a preliminary-design contract in 2020 for a methane-powered launch complex incorporating a reusable first stage. The emerging picture is therefore larger than a simple helium supply agreement. Russia is attempting to build an integrated industrial base around its future methane-powered reusable launcher — connecting energy infrastructure, cryogenic technology, specialised gases and the Vostochny spaceport. In this video, we look at Gazprom’s ultra-pure helium production, the Amur-SPG rocket, why helium matters to launch systems, and how Russia’s giant gas-processing project could become part of the country’s next-generation space infrastructure. #Amur #AmurSPG #AmurRocket #Gazprom #Roscosmos #Russia #RussianSpace #ReusableRocket #SpaceRocket #MethaneRocket #Vostochny #Rocket #SpaceProgram #Helium #LNG #Aerospace #SpaceTechnology #RocketScience #RussianTechnology Be a Member for exclusive privileges - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCviEFTf1xIPKsjmyF_zvFug/join Website: https://www.altitudeaddicts.com