OREANDA-NEWS. April 23, 2010. Russia has its own spacecraft similar to the one launched by US military today, Molnia R&D General Designer Vladimir Skorodelov said.

"The spacecraft was designed in 80s, and it is still in work. This is a reusable multipurpose aerospace system (MAKS) of the same size as US Х-37. An airplane carrier is to be used as the first stage. So, the system is more capable and powerful than the US one”.

MAKS effectiveness is expected to be significant. It will cost much less than the shuttles. For example, the system can deliver 1 kg of cargo into orbit for USD 1,000 or 2,000. For comparison, shuttle’s delivery costs USD 20,000. 

Smaller spacecraft, like MAKS or Х-37, can also approach any object in orbit to check or to photograph it. Russian experts are eager to see national ‘mini-shuttle’ launched.