PLESETSK, Russian Federation -- December 2019 saw the last launch of a Rockot rocket.
Based on the SS-19 (NATO code name Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) taken out of service, the Rockot features two liquid propellant stages powered by a mixture of nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), and a booster stage called Breeze (or Briz).
Despite reports that claim the Rockot is finished, there are other reports that contradict this claim. Nasaspaceflight.com stated in an article that, "Following Friday’s launch, two more Rokots remain available to fly before the type is replaced by the Soyuz-2-1v and Angara." That was written August 30, 2019. Since then there has been a launch of a Rockot, thus leaving one more for a launch.
Rockot-2 is another launch vehicle that has seen mention in articles. Although sources are very scarce, reportedly a Rockot-2, light carrier rocket, is in the works. Its design and layout is unknown but its control system will be entirely Russian-made. Rockot has a Ukrainian-made control system which, due to soured relations between the two countries, is not available to Russia.
With one Rockot spare and the possibility of a new Rockot-2, use of this launch vehicle might reach into the 2020s.
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