What specific propellant combination is reportedly powering Russia's next-generation reusable rocket hardware?
Methane combined with liquid oxygen (Methalox)
The observable technological direction for Russia's next-generation hardware signals a clear shift toward using methane as the primary fuel source, paired with liquid oxygen (LOX). This pairing creates the propellant combination known as methalox. This choice is significant because it aligns Russia with the propellant decisions made by other leading commercial space ventures that are actively pursuing full rocket reusability. This deliberate move away from traditional fuels like kerosene (RP-1) suggests an intent to design hardware from the ground up specifically for the rigors and requirements of repeated flight, rather than trying to retrofit existing kerosene-based engine designs.

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