The launches of space vehicles run on toxic agent heptyl will be stopped.
Talgat Musabayev, the President of the National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazkosmos), stated that the Baikonur would give up launching “Proton” carrier rockets, run on the toxic agent heptyl, from 2030 onwards, as reported by “Interfax”.
According to Talgat Musabayev, it has been already drawn up a special plan providing for total stopping launches of “Proton” rockets. The President of Kazkosmos informed that every year the Baikonur launched 15 rockets run on that toxic agent. For 10 years, i.e. by 2025, it is intended to reduce them up to 5 a year, and by 2030 to give up using “Proton” rockets totally.
Talgat Musabayev also pointed out that “Proton” remained the only Russian carrier rocket run on heptyl. For the time being, the Baikonur Cosmodrome gave up launching all space vehicles run on toxic agent.
Heptyl is a high-toxic transparent or slightly yellowish substance, which is an integral part of the propellant fuel. It is ranked as the hazard category 1. It is applied for launching carrier rockets “Proton”, “Kosmos”, “Cyclone”, “Titan”, “Arian” and many others.
It can be steadily persist in soil for a long time. Heptyl affects human visual and respiratory organs, causes gastrointestinal upset, in specific situations it may result in losing consciousness or even death.
