News Roscosmos News

[SiberianTiger]

But 2015 is soo-o-o far away... They now really aim at 2012, no farther.

 

[Wishbone]

I would suggest consolidating three projects: the Sochi winter olympics, the Far Eastern summit and Vostochny cosmodrome, at Vostochny site. People can ski, meet each other and be launched from there.

 

[N_Molson]

lol... an interesting idea. Recruiting the cosmonauts amongst the olympic athletes would even save some more time ! :lol:

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

I can't wait for 2018 - seeing the ACTS flying to the ISS atop the Rus-M from Vostochny. :thumbup:

 

[Ark]

I can't wait for 2018 - seeing the ACTS flying to the ISS atop the Rus-M from Vostochny. :thumbup:

:huh:

I don't trust anything with a scheduled date that far in the future. Space-related projects tend have a snowball's chance in hell at surviving 7 years of administration changes, politics, budget changes, cost overruns, and the additional few years of delays that will probably be tacked on.

The proponents of every space vehicle ever canceled are on record as saying "It's right around the corner! 5 years! 6 years! 7 years, we'll definitely be launching."

 

[N_Molson]

Unless a program of interplanetary exploration (including the Moon) is developped, I see little need to replace the Soyuz-TMA... Upgrades seem to be a safer option, and you can't beat the cost per launch, so...

 

[Wishbone]

/me really wants lower g's at reentry. This way I can dream of winning a huge "research grant" and going to space as a tourist. With the A in "TMA" removing one obstacle between me and space, I'm hopeful...

 

[SiberianTiger]

Unless a program of interplanetary exploration (including the Moon) is developped, I see little need to replace the Soyuz-TMA... Upgrades seem to be a safer option, and you can't beat the cost per launch, so...

The best reason to develop a replacement is that if Energia engineers don't work on a real thing, they eventually just stop being engineers. And in not a very long time. Working towards a real achievement is one of the last rewards that are left for techy people here.

Also, Russia needs better people and cargo transporting capability unless it wants to save of further efforts and effectively stop any space exploration.

 

[Belisarius]

What are the prospects for the Roscosmos/EADS project of a Klipper-type shuttlecraft launched on the Angara?

Haven't heard anything about that for a few years, but it looked like a good solid project.

 

[SiberianTiger]

What are the prospects for the Roscosmos/EADS project of a Klipper-type shuttlecraft launched on the Angara?

Haven't heard anything about that for a few years, but it looked like a good solid project.

There's nothing like budget money allotted for it, so... :thumbsdown: BTW, I don't know what was a Klipper-like thing to be launched on Angara, but not Klipper (which was never supposed to fly on "enemy's" Khrunichev's vehicles).

 

[Belisarius]

From Astronautix

Logically the Kliper would be launched by the Russian Angara booster, supposedly still in development by Khrunichev. The proposal for the Onega booster would seem to be a bid to reopen the competition, by proposing a 'lower cost' launch vehicle using proven R-7 technology.

http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kliper.htm

Seems the ESA involvement came to nothing after all, no wonder we haven't heard anything on it for years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kliper...2.80.94_uncertainty_over_European_cooperation

Although there seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm for Kliper within Alan Thirkettle’s team at ESA (as outlined in the above paragraph), on December 7, 2005, the European space summit of governmental officials of ESA member states declined to approve a 50-million-euro two-year study focusing on ESA's potential involvement in the Kliper project. In denying funding for the study ESA members stated that, among other factors that seemed unfavourable, under the current Russian proposal Europe would not share control over the design of the program and would be limited to being a small industrial contributor...

In 2006, Jean-Jacques Dordain explained that money allocated to space transportation development, which ESA currently funds in the amount of 300 million for the next 3 years, could be used for Europe's involvement in the project. Given the February 2006 statement that 5 billion rubles (~$200 million) of the development costs will come from "contractors", a limited involvement of ESA in Kliper might have been forthcoming.

 

[SiberianTiger]

From Astronautix

http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kliper.htm

Seems the ESA involvement came to nothing after all, no wonder we haven't heard anything on it for years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kliper...2.80.94_uncertainty_over_European_cooperation

Yes, Kilpper was constricted from both sides, unfortunately. I wonder, what happens if Sevastianov takes chair of Roscosmos head (let me dream a bit)? Will he continue development of PTK-NP or try to resurrect his pet project?

 

[orb]

RIA Novosti: Russia may launch light Soyuz carrier rocket by 2012:

Russia will be ready to launch a light version of a Soyuz carrier rocket by 2012, commander of the Russian Space Forces Oleg Ostapenko said on Thursday.

The Soyuz 2-1V launch vehicle, also known as Soyuz 1, is a two-stage medium class carrier rocket developed by the Progress design bureau.

"We will be ready to carry out this launch at the end of 2011 or in the first quarter of 2012," Ostapenko said, adding that the rocket was ready for assembly at a Progress plant in Samara, the Volga Region.

The new rocket is a modernized version of a Soyuz-2.1B, with the booster rockets removed, and the first stage equipped with a legendary NK-33 rocket engine, which was developed in the 1970s to carry Soviet cosmonauts to the moon onboard a giant N1 rocket.

The second stage is the same as the Soyuz-2.1B.

The rocket is capable of putting a payload of up to 2.85 tons (6,300 lb) to an orbit at an altitude of 200 kilometers.

Launches could be carried out from upgraded launch pads at the Plesetsk Space Center in northwestern Russia and the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.

 

[Wishbone]

Rossiyskaya Gazeta via Roskosmos PAO:

"Russia will not abandon manned flights after ISS end-of-mission", said state secretary, deputy Roskosmos head V.A.Davydov today. He took part in an extramural meeting of the defense and security committee of the upper house of Russian parliament (Council of the Federation), dedicated to problems and opportunities in the Russian space industry.

V.A.Davydov reminded: "ISS program members have decided to extend ISS mission to 2020. In the future we will decide the fate of the station all together."

"But after ISS end of mission we will not abandon manned flights".

"Recently Russian President has given instructions to develop a program of far space exploration up to 2030. Federal Space Program for 2016-2025 will be the framework for all main stages of further manned space exploration".

Besides, Roskosmos "has already begun the development of Prospective Piloted Transport Complex". "It is already clear what to use to get off from Earth. But where to fly to will be known as soon as the above mentioned program has been written: it is far space, and Mars, and a lot of tasks to do in LEO".

Deputy Roskosmos chief denied there is an alleged controversy on the Mars flight program. "Simply, there is no such program". There is "only a system of opinions", according to which such a flight was expected "in the middle of THE THIRD MILLENNIUM (emphasis mine - wishbone)". :facepalm: But, as V.A.Davydov maintains, flights to the Moon should come before the voyage to the Red Planet.

And I thought I was the only one arithmetically challenged...

 

[SiberianTiger]

Maybe he really meant middle of the millenium?..

 

[Wishbone]

Do you mean that he is, well, "immortal", with the sword and other paraphernalia? "Who wants to live forever..."

 

[SiberianTiger]

Do you mean that he is, well, "immortal", with the sword and other paraphernalia? "Who wants to live forever..."

You didn't link to the original news, so i can't say whether he told he was going to see that Mars mission with his own eyes. And even if he supposedly meant middle of the century, his chances (Davydov was born in 1953) to see it are too slim anyway.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yes, Kilpper was constricted from both sides, unfortunately. I wonder, what happens if Sevastianov takes chair of Roscosmos head (let me dream a bit)? Will he continue development of PTK-NP or try to resurrect his pet project?

AFAIR, ESA is stronger involved in the ACTS project. Which isn't nearly as beautiful as Klipr, but still a nice capsule.

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://rian.ru/politics/20110429/369394433.html

Former Deputy Minister of Defense of Russia General of Army in Retirement, 1st Class Active State Advisor Vladimir Alexandrovich Popovkin is appointed today on the post of Head of Federal Space Agency of Russia, (Roscomos).

Biography is available on [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Popovkin"]wiki[/ame]

My congratulations to Vladimir Alexandrovich.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Official documents related to the replacement of Head of Roscosmos:

http://government.ru/gov/results/15042/

Executive Order #748-r signed on 28.04.2011 re Perminov A.N.

Accept the resignation of head of the Federal Space Agency Anatoly Perminov on grounds of his having reached the mandatory retirement age for civil servants.

Chairman of Government or Russian Federation,
Vladimir Putin

http://government.ru/gov/results/15043/

Executive Order #749-r signed on 29.04.2011

Assign Vladimir Alexandrovich Popovkin on the post of head of the Federal Space Agency of Russia.

Chairman of Government or Russian Federation,
Vladimir Putin