Russia’s new Amur methane-powered rocket with a reusable stage will carry next-generation satellites under the Sfera program as its first payload, Roscosmos Executive Director for Long-Term Programs and Science Alexander Bloshenko told TASS.

"It is well-known that Roscosmos is simultaneously developing the Sfera program and that is why satellites of this cluster will be the first payload of the Amur carrier rocket," he said.

The Amur rocket is being designed at a given cost of a launch service (with a minimum price of $22 million) and, therefore, is intended for foreign customers as well, Bloshenko said.

"As soon as we get our conceptual design approved, we will be ready to demonstrate the rocket to the public at large in mock-ups and presentations and discuss some launch manifests," he added.