[News] Roscosmos News

[Fabri91]

The return of the Energia?

Quote:

Russia has proposed a joint project with Kazakhstan and Ukraine to build a heavy rocket capable of launching manned missions to the Moon. It believes this project could be accomplished within three years.

Head of Russia’s Energia corporation Vitaly Lopota spoke about this at an international aerospace congress which opened in Moscow on Monday.

The proposed rocket would be an updated version of Russia’s Soviet-era Energia system. This mighty booster can lift 70 tons to Low Earth Orbit and send payloads of up to 20 tons on interplanetary missions.

IF

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Cosmodrom Vostochny - YouTube

Cosmodrom Vostochny - YouTube

[SiberianTiger]

Meanwhile, a "dry" rehearsal of Soyuz-2.1v rocket's pre-launch operations is under way at the launch complex 43/4 of Plesetsk Cosmodrome:











According to RIA Novosti (http://www.ria.ru/science/20120904/742994036.html), the launch pad rehearsal began Sept. 4th and will take four days, after which time the rocket will be lowered and taken to assembly building for inspections.

As Commander of Airspace Defence Force Gen,-Col. Oleg Ostapenko confirmed, despite delays in the launch schedule due to failure of the Proton mission with Russian and Indonesian satellites last August, there's no plan to delay the maiden flight of Soyuz-2.1v beyond the current year.

[SiberianTiger]

A message at NK forum lists the 8 people who have been selected by GCTS medical commission for presentation to the Inter-Departmental State Committee this week (they are likely to be approved to become the Candidates):

1) Oleg Vladimirovich Blinov, born 1978, GCTS training specialist
2) Pyotr (Peter) Valeryevich Dubrov, born 1978, IT Engineer, "CBOSS Development International" LLC.
3) Ignat Nikolayevich Ignatov, born 1982, Maj., Military Engineer, GCTS Hydrolab specialist
4) Anna Yurievna Kikina, born 1984, Broadcast Director, "Radio Sibir Altai" LLC
5) Sergey Vladimirovich Korsakov, born 1984, works for "Info Capital Group" LLC
6) Dmitry Alexandrovich Petelin, born 1983, works for "NIK" LLC
7) Andrey Valeryevich Fedyaev, born 1981, Capt., Anti-Submarine patrol pilot
8) Nikolay Alexandrovich Tchoob, born 1984, General Director of "Space TU" LLC

Notably, there's no one from space branch enterprises, except two people from GCTS itself.

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Parabolic Arc: Khrunichev Gets Interim General Director:

Quote:

MOSCOW (Khrunichev PR) — Head of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has appointed, by his Executive Order, Vasily Nikolaevich Sychyov Executive General Director, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the appointment to remain valid until General Director is appointed in accordance with the applicable procedure.

Vladimir Evgenievich Nesterov was relieved of his duties as Khrunichev General Director by the Presidential Edict of 31 August. New General Director will be appointed based on the results of the vacancy competition to be announced by Roscosmos.

{...}

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RIA Novosti: Russia Denies ‘Systemic Crisis’ in Space Industry:

Quote:

Russia’s space industry is not in crisis despite some local problems, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday.

“There is no systemic crisis in the Russian space industry; we have problems with some firms, in some sectors,” said Rogozin, who oversees the military-industrial complex in the Russian government.

The government’s military-industrial commission and the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos are working hard to eliminate those problems, he said, adding that they include technology, personnel and discipline.

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RIA Novosti: Medvedev Pledges $21 Bln for Space Industry

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Aviation Week: Russia's Deputy PM Says Country Must Shoot For Moon Base

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Parabolic Arc: Russian Space Program is Rotting Away

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=2599

September 24, 2012

Khrunichev Space Centre continued works on MLM module for the ISS. Last Friday, a test encapsulation of the module in work was performed to test mechanical joints in the upper composite, electric connections and pneumatic pushers. At present moment, the MLM is being prepared for weighing, after which it will pass on to vacuum tests.

After all works are completed, the module will be transferred to Energia Corp. for final integration tests.

[N_Molson]

I hope that the Proton-M that will carry the module will be super-tested & re-tested (especially the third stage).

The module looks great !

[MattBaker]

I hope that they actually don't have to super-test it because Russian Space Industry becomes as reliable as their European counterpart. I'm really serious, OK, maybe I'm not...

On another note: Does the MLM have a propulsion unit (since it has to maneuver itself to the ISS) that could be used for ISS reboosts?

[SiberianTiger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBaker

 On another note: Does the MLM have a propulsion unit (since it has to maneuver itself to the ISS) that could be used for ISS reboosts?

No, it has a traditional layout for FGB-based self-propelled modules, few engine assemblies near the biconical part of the pressure hull (numbers 4 and 27 at the diagram) plus assemblies of RCS engines (see pos. 19 and 28). Still, despite it cannot be used for orbit boosts, its RCS will be used for bank control of the ISS, due to their favourable location far from the axis.



The source for this image is http://www.gctc.ru/main.php?id=316, it's a description of Kvant-2 module of Mir.

Hmm, I guess the person who was building this website and who is also mentioned in my signature could tell much more on the topic (she once had her own site on Mir), but alas...

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RIA Novosti: Russia Needs Leaner Space Industry - Space Agency Head:

Quote:

Russia needs a leaner space industry, and that means significant job cuts, Vladimir Popovkin, head of Russia’s Space Agency Roscosmos, said on Thursday.

“Unless we act now – we will cease to be competitive,” he warned.

Speaking about the need for reform, Popovkin noted that “reorganizing Roscosmos into a holding company will ensure maximum staffing” across the sector.

“If today over 250 people are employed, then we calculate that the maximum should be 150-170” he said during a lecture for science and technology students.

{...}

[MattBaker]

Sounds like the opposite of the current NASA approach where it's about creating as many jobs as possible...