Russian heavy launch vehicle Angara-A5V may be upgraded in order to perform flights to the Moon, said in the statement of Science and Technology Council of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), RIA Novosti reports.

“Recommend Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center (manufactures Angara launch vehicles) in cooperation with RSC Energia (leading enterprise of the Russia’s rocket and space industry) to develop preliminary design of Angara-A5V launch vehicle with a capability of performing flights to the Moon and moon space with transport and manned spacecraft as well as other payloads. The documents must be submitted for consideration by an interdepartmental commission,” said in the statement of the Science and Technology Council.

The council discussed technical proposals of the leading enterprises of the rocket and space industry related to development of advanced launch vehicles. The commonality of Angara launch vehicles family helps optimize the government expenditure in this area and provides opportunities for achieving all the important milestones in the near term,” Chairman of the Council Yuri Koptev said. According to him, Khrunichev Center will cooperate with other enterprises in order to “obtain the required results and decrease the concept-to-delivery time”.

“Development of Angara-A5V launch vehicle assures keeping the Russia’s positions at the global market in this segment,” Koptev added.