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ZENIT-AUSTRALIA is a two-stage space launch vehicle, derived from the tested and proven ZENIT-3SL, and ZENIT-3SLB launch vehicles. It will be manufactured in Australia,
using components and materials that will be also manufactured or produced in the AUKUS countries, EU, Japan, etc. There will be no use of the Russian or Chinese components.
As a matter of fact, one of the underlying reasons for the development of this launch vehicle is to depart from the dependence of the ZENIT launch vehicle family on
Russian or Chinese supply of materials and components, including propulsion.
The propulsion of the ZENIT-AUSTRALIA will include a cluster of 7 open-cycle LOX/Kerosene engines, as a propulsion of the first stage, and a single similar type restartable LOX/Kerosene engine for the first stage, which will be modified for vacuum operations. The engines will be manufactured in Australia at the Cosmovision Global Engine Production facility using additive manufacturing and Yuzhmash's proprietary technologies.
The second stage of the launch vehicle is largely similar to the operational second stage of the ZENIT-3SLB, but it will have a composite core, instead of an Aluminium core, as was used for its predecessor. The second stage will be end-to-end manufactured in Australia.
The faring and payload adapter of the ZENIT-AUSTRALIA launch vehicle will also be manufactured in Australia at Cosmovision Global's composite production facility using molding technology and composite honeycomb structure elements.
The first and second stages will be integrated with engines at Cosmovision Global's Stage Preparation facility.
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