[ad_1]
In 2027, Roscosmos plans to start deploying the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). The head of the state corporation, Yuri Borisov, approved the work plan. By 2030, the core of the new space station is expected to be built, consisting of four modules, which will be launched into solar orbit. Between 2031 and 2033, ROSS is planned to be expanded – two target modules will be docked at the station. The Moscow Evening News has learned the details.
Next stop: Earth’s satellite
The Russian orbital service station will provide opportunities for safer and better access to outer space, the research center said. In the future, it will become the main platform for testing lunar flight technologies and building satellite bases. The idea of creating its own orbital station was first announced in 2021 by Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of the Russian Space Agency.
He then argued that building a separate space station would bring a leap forward in the development of science and technology, the national economy and national security. Due to the nature of the International Space Station, technical and economic limitations make it difficult to conduct such research. According to the International Space Station Laboratory, the cost of an experiment in 2020, including the cost of transporting materials to the space station and returning to the station, is about $7.5 million.
Yuri Borisov, the current head of the Russian Space Agency, said that the Russian authorities categorically refuse to participate in the work of the International Space Station and will not extend cooperation with the United States. The United States expects joint work to continue until at least 2030, but the Russian authorities have repeatedly expressed doubts about the possibility of continued cooperation.
Yuri Borisov said that this was practically impossible against the backdrop of the ongoing sanctions attack. The head of the Russian Space Agency said that the only development option seemed to be the creation of a Russian orbital service station.
The Science and Energy Module (SEM), originally built as part of the International Space Station, is scheduled to be launched in 2027. The project was originally scheduled to start in 2023, but the date was postponed. Now it has been decided to improve NEM-1, in particular to update the software and mathematics, and then launch this module into space. Three types of modules are planned to be launched by 2030. The first is the universal node, which is designed to expand technical and operational capabilities. The second is the airlock, which is needed to enter outer space.
The third is a basic module for building automation and process control systems. Together with the Science and Energy Center, they will form the core of the station. It will serve as a research and scientific base. Scientists will be able to prepare space soil and soil for research and conduct experiments. The next stage after the launch of NEM into space will be the docking of the two modules. The first is called “target production”. It is necessary for refueling and charging the spacecraft. The second module – material support – is designed to store large quantities of food supplies.
The North Pole can be seen through the porthole
In the 25-year history of participating in the International Space Station mission, space technology has undergone a period of revolutionary changes. Nathan Esmont, chief researcher at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, tells VM about this. For example, the technology used during the launch of Mir-1 has changed a lot. The basic onboard instruments that will be installed on ROSS will work faster and more accurately.
— The new station of the Russian Space Agency will have a more complete view of the entire Earth. The field of view of the International Space Station is 52.5 degrees, while the field of view of the Russian space station is 98 degrees. Our space station will be located in a sun-synchronous orbit. It will be possible to have a comprehensive view of the Earth’s surface, including the Arctic region. We will have a stable connection with the ground control center. Unlike the International Space Station, the Russian Orbital Service Station will rotate clockwise, while the International Station repeats the Earth’s rotation, Esmont said. — Due to the use of different operating systems, the satellite will pass over Moscow at the same time every time.
According to Roscosmos representatives, the distance between the Russian space station and the Earth will be between 300 and 350 kilometers. At the same time, the distance of the international base from our planet will be 390 to 420 kilometers above sea level. Due to the slight difference, there will be no changes in the training of astronauts.
The duties of the astronauts are exactly the same as on the ISS: the specialists need to be able to use onboard equipment, go into outer space, photograph the Earth’s surface, repair the space station if necessary, and, if necessary, conduct research in the orbiting laboratory to bring new information almost instantly. And also to remain physically active. One of the main directions determines the development of the observation center.
– To promote economic development, changes in the Earth’s polar regions will be clearly visible. The station is expected to be equipped with the most modern instruments to make the most accurate forecasts. It turns out that we will be able to create clearer charts of changes in weather conditions and predict the occurrence of various disasters. “Nathan Esmont said.
Radiation exposure risks
The main issue astronauts may face will be increased radiation exposure levels, as the station will be closer to Earth than the ISS. ROSS will occur near the aurora, resulting in UV background levels that are about 30% higher than those encountered by astronauts on the ISS. Particularly dangerous to humans are solar proton events, streams of high-energy protons and ions produced by solar flares, Nathan Esmont explained.
The good news is that the sun is now less active. This period sometimes lasts for decades, but due to the lower solar radiation, the impact of galactic rays on astronauts increases. They have a more difficult radiation to protect against; this requires increasing the thickness of the station’s plating.
The Russian space agency Roscosmos has not tried to downplay the threat. Its former head, Dmitry Rogozin, admitted in 2021 that the station’s location means higher levels of radiation, which would seriously affect flight times.
“But we must not forget that the station itself is not important. It is very important as a carrier of unique equipment with huge capabilities. Its task is not to conduct experiments on people, but to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the target equipment provided by the crew,” Rogozin noted.
BRICS countries, join us!
Yuri Borisov said that the project is open to international cooperation. Invitations have been made to African and BRICS countries to participate in the construction of the new station. The number of crew members on ROSS is 2 to 4 people. Every year, one or two manned missions will be launched to the International Space Station to obtain resources, and up to three space trucks will deliver the necessary resources.
Today, Russia and the People’s Republic of China are actively cooperating in the work of Kanopus-V and Resurs-P Earth remote sensing satellites. Roscosmos will organize space research together with India. Manned space programs, satellite navigation and planetary exploration are priority areas of cooperation between the countries. Together with Egypt, a program is being developed in the areas of outer space research and exploration, spacecraft production and launches, development of manned programs, and ground-based space infrastructure.
— Close interaction with allies is expected. In the future, other BRICS countries and African republics, which have received specific proposals for the joint implementation of the project, will certainly join in its implementation. Nathan Esmont stressed that the number of countries participating in the launch is expected to be no less than the participants in the International Space Station program, whose mission involves 18 countries. — In the future, more and more requests for participation from the international community are expected. We still need to develop the entire scope of tasks, which will become more realistic as the project is launched.
Meeting point cannot be changed
The ROSS module will be launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. The Amur launch vehicle with a reusable launcher is also being developed there. Its engines will run on a combination of methane and oxygen. Thanks to such a rocket, the cost of space launches will become much more profitable. Methane is an environmentally friendly fuel that produces almost no waste. Therefore, it is most convenient to use in reusable launches. Initially, the ROSS module was planned to be launched into space on the Soyuz-2.1b. This is a reliable, but rather expensive launch vehicle.
The ROSS low-Earth orbit plane will allow spacecraft to be sent to the Moon twice a month. This is mentioned in the report of Nikita Chudinov, a ballistic flight support specialist at the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC). It turns out that flights will occur every 15 days. Thus, it will be possible to create a base on the Earth’s satellite. By the way, Russia and China have agreed to create a lunar station by 2035. Starting from 2031, Russia and China plan to carry out at least five joint missions to create a station in the satellite orbit and a base on the lunar surface.
history
Today, the only manned orbital station of the USSR and Russia in space is Mir – a multifunctional international center, which for more than 15 years has been the world’s only space laboratory for testing and testing the main directions of targeted use of future manned space stations and complexes that will provide humanity with wealth and secrets of the universe. International research projects have been implemented at the station since 1986. Cosmonauts from France, Syria, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Japan, Great Britain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Austria, the United States, Canada and countries of the European Space Corporation directly participated in the implementation of these programs on the space station. The station was designed in 5 years, but lasted 15 years and sank in the Pacific Ocean in 2001.
Opinion
Together with our allies, we can do this
Sergey Bogachev, chief researcher at the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences:
— International Space Station — The International Space Station has exhausted its available resources. There are endless news about various malfunctions: either an oxygen leak or a malfunction of the gyroscope responsible for the station’s orientation. I really like the idea of creating a Russian orbital station; this can bring a huge leap in the development of the domestic space industry. Of course, there will be difficulties in its implementation and it will cost incredibly huge amounts of money, but I think that, taking into account the contributions of our allies, this will not be a serious problem. The International Space Station successfully united countries in the pursuit of common goals, but times have changed. Now Russia is interested in different space explorations with people who are really working hard to develop. In the field of scientific spaceflight, we have sent our ideas and their possible implementation. Since our country has only one astrophysical observatory, located in Karachay-Cherkessia, it is proposed to expand research tasks in the future. Unfortunately, our closest competitors already have a dozen of these. This is also something to note. We have resources, we have room for struggle and development. The ROSS station strengthens research experience. By studying the soil of stars, planets and asteroids, methods of monitoring natural phenomena and events occurring in various parts of the Earth will be studied. For example, it will be possible to see what is happening in the Earth’s polar regions that we couldn’t see before.
[ad_2]
Source link
