21 days later

The Mars-500 crew are 21 days or three weeks into their “mission”.

On their Google site a serial story is being published each week, each chapter written by a different Russian author. Unfortunately the only translation provided is a computer one, which is imperfect at best – I wish they had spent some $ on a human translator. The title of the first chapter is computer translated as “Start need to cancel?” which human translates into something like “Cancel launch?”, and struggling to make sense of the tortured syntax takes away from enjoying the story.

“How risky is it to rely on Russian spaceflight?”, James Oberg, MSNBC.com, 15/6.

“The People’s Capsule”, Foreign Policy, August 2010. A rather gloomy overview of the Russian space program and its manned Soyuz spaceship.

Soyuz TMA-16 landed

Expedition 22 (Maksim Suraev & Jeffrey Williams) landed on 18/3. Maksim was the first Russian space blogger, and his informal entries proved very popular with the public.

Roskosmos chief Anatolii Perminov said at the traditional meeting for the Soyuz TMA-18 crew on 19/3 that the financial crisis had not affected the process of preparing the cosmonauts for flight.

Some items from NK №843:

Russia could possibly increase the number of yearly Soyuz manned spacecraft launches from 4 to 5 from 2012 onwards, because of the timing of the construction cycle that takes 2.5 years. The fifth would carry a space tourist. Since 2009, Russia has doubled the number of launches from 2 to 4 to service the ISS with an increased crew of 6; space tourist flights were thus suspended in 2010. Two Indian cosmonauts will make an orbital flight on one of the extra ships in the 2013-2015 period, according to an agreement reached recently between Russia and India. The chief of Enerigya, Vitalii Lopota, said that a fifth Soyuz could possibly be constructed in 2010 to carry a tourist, possibly in mid-year.

Academican Lev Zelenyi (Лев Зеленый) of the Russian Academy of Sciences said that Russian scientists are not satisfied by the small quantity of the research experiments implemented on the International Space Station (only 2 or 3 out of 500 experiments proposed). Most experiments carried out are technological rather than pure science (one of the latter being “Plasma Crystal”). Despite his misgivings, though, his own opinion of the ISS has become more positive.

“In the beginning I was a complete opponent of the ISS, considering that it was a waste of time and resources. Why? It was the 90s, in space no nothing, space science ceased existence under Yeltsin. We started to put our scientific instruments on Western machines, and ISS absorbed most funding. This was done not in the name of science, but for the sake of political prestige. But now it is possible to assess what happened, not to look guilty or innocent, and to perceive what become a reality. ISS made it possible to preserve the ‘human face’ of our space program, and that its merit. It is certainly important in developing space medicine. Americans in this area have we learn something. And if we start talking, and then carry out a manned flight to Mars, some experience on the ISS will certainly be in demand and useful. Over the past years, we have much lost in space, but the experience of long flights is still preserved,” concluded the Academican.

Two women will be part of the second generation Chinese spaceflight group (along with 5 men), selected from a shortlist of 15. They are all aged between 27 and 34, are qualified to fly fighter jets, and all must be married mothers. (Guardian, Space Daily)

Xu Xianrong, an expert at the air force general hospital, said women had advantages as astronauts over men because they were more mentally stable, better able to bear loneliness and had better communication skills. The insistence that they should also be wives and mothers does not relate to their multi-tasking abilities. Officials are concerned that space flight might affect their fertility. “It’s out of the consideration of being responsible for the female pilots,” Xu told the state news agency Xinhua. “Though there is little evidence on how the space experience will affect the female constitution, we have to be extra cautious. After all, it’s unprecedented in China.”

They seem to be a bit more enlightened than Russia regarding women in space! (See 16/10/2007 entry.)

China is to launch the 1st unmanned experimental module of a planned space station next year (2011). It is an 8.5 ton (7.7 tonne) module, named Tiangong-1, or “Heavenly Palace”, and is to be first used for docking practice by the Shenzhou spacecraft – an unmanned Shenzhou-8 in 2013 – then manned -9 & -10 flights.

Anatolii Perminov interview

“Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov Answered the Questions of Novosti Kosmonavtiki Magazine”, RK, 22/2. A reprinted interview on the Roskosmos site. As the English version which I linked to may or may not show up because of the peculiar content management system their site uses (and their HTML code is horribly mangled), I have reproduced it below.

Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov answered the questions of Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine

Roscosmos Head Anatoly Perminov answered the questions of Novosti Kosmonavtiki magazine. The interview in Russian is published in the Feb. issue of the magazine.

---

Question: Anatoly Nikolaevich, could you please tell about the most significant achievements of the Russian space industry in 2009? How the Federal Space Program objectives were fulfilled?

A. Perminov: Currently, more than 100 states in the world deal with space exploration. However only three of them (the USA, Russia and China) have capabilities to fulfill all the objectives of this business, including human space missions.

Rate of Russian space launches increased in 2009. Totally, 32 were made. 29 national and 20 foreign spacecraft were orbited. This makes up 43% of the number of launches in the world in 2009.

13 spacecraft were launched under the Federal Space Program.

In January 2009, Coronas-Photon spacecraft was orbited under the long-term Russian program which covers solar physics and solar-earth link studies. Russian and foreign scientists carry out their research activities with the help of the data provided by Coronas-Photon.

New-generation spacecraft Meteor-M launched on September 17 provides the opportunity to enhance weather predictions significantly.

Roscosmos industry increased the number of launches for human space vehicles Soyuz TMA and cargo supply vehicles Progress twice.

Reliable navigation support became essential within the recent years. This support is provided by satellite navigation systems. The number of Russian global constellation GLONASS satellites rose. GLONASS provides full navigation coverage for Russia. GLONASS Federal Network operator with definite functions was established in 2009.

Orbital operations of the Resource-DK remote sensing spacecraft launched in 2006 successfully go on. Electro-L and Kanopus-V intended to enhance Russian hydro-meteorological and Earth remote sensing orbital constellations are under production, with most of manufacturing milestones already completed. Launch and orbital operations of these spacecraft will provide weather services with meteorological data, as well as provide prompt detection of emergencies and accidents, and forest fire timely caution and warning. Unfortunately, some problem occurred during Electro-L on-board equipment ground tests made us postpone the launch to the second quarter of 2010.

MKA-FKI small spacecraft intended for fundamental studies now is planned for launch together with Kanopus-V and a Belorussian spacecraft in 2010.

Technological lab Photon-M № 3 launched in 2007 provided the opportunity to perform 105 experiments in such fields as material science, space biology and technology, including 37 European, 2 Chinese, 59 Russian and 7 joint Russian and European experiments.

Design and production of the Express-series new-generation communication satellite are in progress. Due to Express-AM44 and Express-MD orbiting, Russian space communication and broadcasting system experience dynamical evolution. Development of the Loutch-based advanced space relay system and Gonets-M-based personal satellite communication system is in progress.

Under the fundamental space studies program, Russian scientists continue working with Konus-A payload on-board US spacecraft Wind, Rome-Pamela installed on Resource-DK, as well as planet atmosphere research equipment including OMEGA and SPIKA-M aboard European spacecraft Mars-Express, and SPIKA-V aboard European Venus-Express. Most of production activities with Spectr-R and Spectr-RG astrophysical observatories are completed.

Q: What about budget funding in 2009?

A.P.: Russian Federal Space Program, GLONASS Federal Special Program, as well as the other space programs were funded fully by the Government. Despite of the financial crisis, Russian leaders supported national space industry.

Last year, Russian space industry demonstrated better growth factors than the other industries.

Q: What is the progress in fulfilling the decision about construction of the Vostochny space port? What is the status? And what is going on at Baikonur?

A.P.: Vostochny construction is carried out step-wise. Let me remind, in 2008, TSNIIMAsh, in cooperation with other companies, drafted system design for the space port. In 2009, leading design bureaus of the industry developed technical specifications of the mid-class launcher with high lifting capacity, which is to become the key element for the new space port.

Currently, draft design of the new launch site (TSKB-Progress Federal Entity is the prime contractor in the project) is ongoing. Design and search activities are carried out for Vostochny. Design institute Ipromashprom has been picked as the prime designer of the future space port. These activated resulted in defining locations of the ground space infrastructure major elements. Vostochny investment justification documents are being prepared for further submission to State Expertise in 2010.

We plan to complete design and search milestone, and development of design and maintenance documents by 2011. Construction of the engineering and social infrastructure, as well as the first launch pad are to be finished by 2015. The main objects and infrastructure of the second priority are to be completed by 2018. Maiden launch from Vostochny is planned in 2015.

Concerning Baikonur, the following operations are carried out there:

• modification of the Proton launch pads;
• modification of the Soyuz launch pads;
• reconstruction of the filling neutralization station is over.
• modification of the existing engineering facilities for socio-economical and scientific spacecraft;
• modification of the Soyuz, Proton engineering facilities, as well as upper stage engineering facilites;
• modification of the Roscosmos’ measurement systems used to support launches;
• development of the Baikonur object control and monitoring system;
• establishment of the Baikonur object maintenance system, based on new principles which imply readiness for usage and assignment;
• Baiterek project sees progress. Intergovernmental Cooperation Board of Russia and Kazakhstan determined for Russia to allocate Universal Launch Pad which served for the maiden launch of Energia in 1987, for the joint project. Baiterek construction is planned to commence in 2010.

Q: What about Angara development?

A.P.: Development of the Angara launcher and ground launch infrastructure at Plesetsk are in progress. Two firing tests of the universal rocket module for the rocket’s first stage have been completed successfully.

Angara’s launch pad and engineering facility are constructed at the space port with high insensitivity. In accordance with the General master schedule, Angara’s maiden launch from Plesetsk is to take place in 2011. However, due to lack of funding, construction of the launch facility is delayed, thus making the flight tests postponed to 2011.

Q: What is the status of the advanced space transportation system (launcher and vehicle for the new space port) project?

A.P.: In early 2009, following the contest, Russian space industry commenced draft design of the advanced crew transportation system (ACTS) which is grounded on a set of scientific, research and search efforts. The core of the system is the new-generation advanced crew vehicle (ACV) intended to use Russian technologies and industrial cooperation.

In parallel, studies of evolved systems for distant space exploration are carried out. These include definition of the system’s structure, purpose, development milestones, prime features of the new space infrastructure, launchers and ground facilities, scientific, engineering, technological, organizational, economical support of the efforts.

ACV design is to provide basis for further modifications to fly to the Moon and Mars, for automatic cargo and cargo-return vehicles, as well as orbital tugs. In addition, LLO transfer stages for crew and cargo vehicle delivery to the lunar orbits are to be developed.

Q: What is your opinion about GCTC reorganization? Will united Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corps be established, or the existing industry’s corps will remain? When will a new cosmonaut recruitment take place?

A.P.: In general, GCTC reorganization from a military structure into Federal Budget Entity Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center is positive. Sergey K. Krikalev, one of the most famous cosmonauts of Russia, was appointed GCTC Chief. GCTC got its status of a juridical entity in April. At the same time, cosmonaut training continues under the approved schedules.

Proposals on cosmonaut recruitment shall be submitted to Roscosmos in the first quarter of 2010.

Q: Which structural changes occurred in Roscosmos companies? Is there a plan to establish an integrated state corporation?

A.P.: We studied the positive and negative experience of other state corporations, as well as the place of Roscosmos in the international space efforts, and decided to establish several large corporations (public companies with essential share package of the state) instead of one. This will help us to fulfill the tasks we have, and to keep state control of the rocket and space industry assets.

9 integrated structures functioning in the industry (status of late 2009) unite major production funds of the industry. Several integrated structures are still under formation.

The first and the most complicated milestone of the industry’s reforming is to be completed by 2011. It is featured by establishment of the core of 14 integrated structures, which will unite about 60% of the most significant rocket and space industry companies (wrt the number of companies in 2004).

Q: Anatoly Nikolaevich, could you point out the companies which achieved success in employing young specialists and keeping experienced personnel? How do they manage it?

A.P.: Russian Federal Space Agency pays significant attention to the human resource problem on the highest level: meetings of the HR chiefs and workshops are held, HR strategy is developed. Thus, positive results in this branch are achieved.

The number of personnel ran through refreshment or qualification training in the industry increase every year. More than 50 thousand (19,4% of the total number) employees of the industry graduated from professional qualification courses in 2009.

Some HR objectives of the industry are fulfilled by direct contacts with the technical universities and through professional training programs.

For example, 50 students entered “Spacecraft and upper stages, launch facilities and rocket and space launch sites” faculty in the Amur State University.

These students are trained for further work at the Vostochny space port. They will acquire basic knowledge, which is to be followed by their studies at Moscow Aviation Institute and Amur and South Ural Universities.

Major Roscosmos entities establish advanced training departments in various science, engineering, technology branches to provide training for the engineers and workers.

To keep the employees, the entities provide the opportunities to solve social problems, such as housing habitation for the singles or families, kinder gardens, other items of social packet.

At the same time, the situation if more favorable in the regions. There is a positive example Reshetnev Informational Satellite Systems public company. The number of employees under 30 is about 50% there.

Good tendencies are set up in our work with young people, which we consider the most important HR direction.

Compare to 2007, the percentage of young employees increased from 18 to 20% in 2009; the number of young managers under 30 increased by 16% within the same period.

Student and graduates of technical institutes were included into scientific and research working groups for the first time this year under Federal Special Program “Scientific and Educational Human Resources of Innovative Russia”.

In 2008, 267 young employees got real estate subsidies; this makes it 44% more than in 2007. In the first half of 2009, 12 companies provided financial subsidies to 282 young employees under 30.

These examples confirm that the objectives set up by Roscosmos Board are being accomplished.

Q: How did the crisis impact the industry?

A.P.: Despite of the world financial crisis, status indexes of the rocket and space industry and its production continued to enhance in 2009. Production volume is 12,2%, which is twice as big as the same parameter of the national production volume.

Financial stability of the industry improved in 2009. Rocket and space industry maintained accomplishment of all international space commitments, keeping high rates for the national launch services.

Nevertheless, in early 2009 the crisis became visible in the industry. Some reduction of the government-customized production volume is predicted for 2010.

It is also worth saying that about 15% of the work in the industry is carried out by the cooperative companies (~ 550 entities). These are manufacturers of the optics, RF equipment, EEE parts, rubber materials, ferrous and nonferrous materials and alloys, proof compounds, glues, etc. The crisis impacted the partner companies, thus impacted the rocket and space industry.

The crisis of the world and national financial markets slowed down consolidation of the financial and economical status of the industry, deteriorating the status of the companies. Credit opportunities are less affordable for some entities.

Increased crediting rates made negative impact on the pure profits and profitability of the industry. If the companies do not obtain governmental support in 2010, they may turn unprofitable.

Q: What are the new steps made in the frame of Roscosmos cooperation with other countries and agencies?

A.P.: In July 2009, the Presidents of Russia and US approved establishment of the bilateral presidential commission, which consists of 13 cooperation working groups. Working group “Cooperation in space” is chaired by Roscosmos and NASA Heads. New NASA Administrator Charles Bolden visited Baikonur for the first time during the launch of Soyuz TMA-16. Then, we held working meetings in MCC. We discussed space policy, ISS cooperation, as well as prospectives in life science research, etc.

Russia and China signed Space Cooperation Program for 2010-2012. It implies joint work under 53 topics. In particular, it is planned to develop space communication system for the countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, joint acquisition of the remote sensing spacecraft data via the network of stations located in Russia and China, cooperation under Russian GLONASS and Chinese Beidou programs. Exploration of the Moon and other planets of the Solar system is another very important branch of the joint program.

Mounting and assembly operations at the Soyuz launch facility in Guiana Space Center are close to completion; next milestone will cover autonomous and integrated tests.

Maiden launch of South-Korean rocket KSLV-1 took place in August 2009. The launch is considered partially successful. The first stage with the RD-191 engine produced in Russia displayed proper functioning during the launch.

Fruitful cooperation with Kazakhstan which covers not only Baikonur, but overall cooperation in space, is enhancing.

Well, there are dozens of examples to illustrate our international cooperation.

The collaboration is developing in different branches: joint research, development and experiments; spacecraft production; launch, transport and other services; data and experience exchange; joint utilization of the space assets and technologies. More than 50 countries are our partners in space programs. Understanding of the fact that no single state can afford maintaining large-scale space exploration, Russia is enhancing space cooperation with all interested world centers. Future full-scale space exploration is feasible only by international cooperation. Due to this approach, space projects and programs of all interested parties and organizations gradually become more and more integrated into the joint space business; due to mutual dependence and complementarity, international collaboration turns into key and strategically significant feature for evolution of the world space exploration initiative.

Q: Coming back to internal Russian business. What are the priorities of the civil space exploration in 2010?

A.P.: Space exploration in Russia enter its new evolution stage, which is featured by full-scale integration of space assets and technologies into national science and economy.

The following priorities of space exploration in Russia have been defined under support of the Russian President and Russian Government:

• maximum satisfaction of the social, economical and scientific needs in space outcome by deploying and effective utilization of the national space satellite constellations for various purposes;
• complete accomplishment of the Russian commitments under various international space projects, including the ISS, as well as deployment of the ISS Russian segment and enhancement of RS utilization effectiveness;
• exploration of planets and bodies of the Solar system aimed at acquiring fundamental knowledge about the world around us, extra-terrestrial resource utilization, study of the Earth climate change mechanism, search of life in outer space, prepare and carry out large-scale lunar and martian projects, including human space missions, etc.

We initiated development of advanced space systems for various purposes.

I’d like to draw your attention first to the International Space Station (ISS)- the most outstanding space habitation ever built by the mankind. Russia improves its segment and performs space experiments, and maintains ISS transport and supply support by Soyuz TMA and Progress vehicles in parallel. Russia also provides Soyuz TMA crew rescue opportunities in case of emergency.

Due to upcoming Shuttle retirement, NASA and Roscosmos signed a contract which covers transportation / return of the US astronauts to the ISS by Russian crew vehicles.

ISS RS evolution plan is being implemented. New Russian Mini Research Module MRM-2. MRM-1 will join ISS RS in 2010, and Multipurpose Laboratory Module will come in 2011. Both modules undergo intensive preparatory operations.

With these modules, Russia will enhance research and experimental program onboard the ISS, improve conditions for the crew inside the station and on its outer surface.

Concerning priorities of the human spaceflight program, these are the following:

• fulfillment of the national research and experimental program onboard the ISS RS;
• ISS RS operations, including transport and cargo supply support, mission control, maintenance, etc.;
• fulfillment of the international commitments wrt ISS partners on cargo delivery and crew transportation, station 6 crew rescue;
• design and development of the advanced crew transportation system;
• development and construction of the Vostochny space port.

Currently, there is a positive tendency of GLONASS qualitative enhancement. A set of measures aimed at achievement of the competitive status for the national Global Navigation System is being carried out. Russian navigation user equipment and technologies are developed and introduced.

Q: A bit untraditional question: what are your dreams?

A.P.: Speaking about my work and the state, I only dream and wish our state to modify, become entirely civilized. I wish our industry to accomplish the objectives set up by the government of our country.

Q: What are your wishes to the readers of Novosti Kosmonavtiki in 2010?

A.P.: I wish them anything they want: happiness, good health, optimism, confidence in the future.

The Hydrolaboratory (Gidrolaboratoriya, Гидролаборатория) where cosmonauts and astronauts train for EVAs at Star City marked 30 years of operations on 18/2. I have a page about it on my website.

Mars-500 spacesuits tested

From NK №836, rough computer translations of two Mars-related news items. First, a manned Mars mission is not in current Russian plans, disappointingly. I would like to see one happen before 2020! Hopefully before China or other countries send a mission there.

11/02/2010/00:05 – A piloted flight to Mars is not yet included in Russian Space Department plans

A piloted flight to Mars is not included in the upcoming plans of the Russian Space Department and is not included in the space program of Russia, the head of department Anatoly Perminov said Wednesday on air at the radio station “Voice of Russia”.

“In the foreseeable future no flights to Mars are planned. New modern or future systems of power impellent installations are for this purpose necessary; as well as these, there may also be nuclear installations developed,” Perminov noted.

For a performance of such flight, he considers it necessary at first to solve a number of scientific problems. “The ground experiment Mars-500 will soon begin, and a number of the European countries are actively participating in it.”

For a flight to the Red planet, according to Perminov, new power impellent installations will be required.

“Perhaps, these will be nuclear installations. Are we working on this? Yes. There are no secrets. Because the president of our country has set us this task. In one of programs there is development of power impellent nuclear installation. With its help it will be already possible in the future to reach Mars in under a year and and a half, and in the shortest possible time,” Perminov stated.

The head of the Russian Space Department has also confirmed the readiness of the Russian Space Department to co-operate from NASA in developing such systems. “It would be desirable, that such large-scale projects were international, with faster results, and lessening costs. We are ready to co -operate. If for some reasons it does not turn out, we will develop in parallel,” Perminov said.

The spacesuits for Mars-500 are modified/recycled Orlan-DMA suits, an older version of the current Orlan-MK used in orbit on the ISS. They were successfully tested. There is a gallery at the Mars-500 site from early last year of a spacesuit being tested.

12/02/2010/00:05 – “Marsonauts” from experiment “Mars-500” will work on the surface of the Red Planet using Russian lunar tools

In the research-and-production enterprise NPP Zvezda situated near Moscow on Wednesday has passed a control “run” of a new spacesuit which will be involved in the “Mars-500” experiment, simulating a piloted flight to Mars.

Two testers for NPP Zvezda worked for hours in spacesuits on a surface imitating that of the Red Planet, carrying out various manipulations with special tools. One of the “marsonauts” broke up large chunks of rock, and then using the probe would pick up wooden blocks, simulating pieces of Martian soil, and put them in a pouch hanging from her utility belt. Another “pioneer” scooped up sand with a small shovel (the sand imitating loose soil) and dumped it in a special container.

“These tools were developed in the 60 years of the last century for a national lunar program,” explained one of the leaders of the Soviet lunar program from RSC Energiya, Oleg Tsygankov. After the program was canceled, the miraculously preserved instruments can now be used in the experiments on the preparation of manned flights to other planets, he said.

After collecting rocks, the space travelers imitated Michael Jackson’s famous moonwalk in their spacesuits and dropped to one knee, like a knight offering his hands and heart to his lady.

“The spacesuits are based on the old Orlan-DMA Russian suit,” which is different from the new Orlans which the ISS crews wear in space,” the chief of department NPP Zvezda, Gennadii Shchavelev, said. First of all, they are smaller in size: length and chest. As well, they weigh only 30 kg – four times less than the zero-g Orlans – as the testers on Earth are not helped by weightlessness. One more difference: the Orlans have a self-contained life-support system, while in the “Martian” spacesuits, air for cosmonauts moves through long hoses from special compressors.

The colour of the new “suits” is unusual also - unlike the white Orlans, their “Martian” colleagues are made of a brilliant peach-coloured fabric. “We could not decide on a color for the new spacesuits,” designer Galina Borisova said. “We looked at many fabrics – blue, steel, dark blue – but eventually settled on this color that is harmonious with the reddish Martian surface.”

“The spacesuits behaved impeccably, all systems functioned normally, no improvements are not required,” Shchavelev summed up the test run.

After drying, the “Martian” spacesuits will go to the warehouse, and then, after a fitting with the selected Mars-500 crew, the suits will be transferred to the “Martian spacecraft”, situated in the Institute of Biomedical Problems of RAS, which in April will begin the 520-day experiment.

Left behind

“Cosmonaut: Russia falling behind in space race”, MSNBC.com, 20/11. Cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin is concerned at Russia’s tardiness of developing a new spacecraft, and that it will fall behind other countries and become irrelevant. Cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov voiced similar concerns last year (18/5/2008 entry), about Russia being relegated to a space tourist taxi service.

He said officials’ talk of using the ship to fly to the International Space Station, and then the moon and Mars, are unfeasible. “One vehicle can’t be both a steamroller and a Formula One racer,” he said.

[…]

Tyurin said that work on the prospective ship has proceeded slowly, with engineers continuing to argue over such basic things as whether the new spacecraft should come back using parachutes, like the Soyuz, or land like a plane, similar to the U.S. shuttles.

[…]

But Tyurin warned that the failure to develop new space technologies would relegate Russia to a secondary role in the near future. “Very soon, no one will need the Russian space program,” he said. “Our partners already have got all they could from us. They won’t take us into the future.”

“Russian room ready for space station launch”, MSNBC.com, 9/11. On the new Russian module, Poisk, launched 2 weeks ago.

“Industry Insiders Foresaw Delay of Russia’s Phobos-Grunt”, Spacenews.com, 5/10. Article by Anatoly Zak on why the Phobos probe has been delayed until 2011: more equipment testing is needed, the onboard flight control system wasn’t ready, nore are ground control facilities.

“Russian Cosmonaut’s Blog Much Funnier Than NASA”, Wired.com, 18/9. On Maksim Suraev’s blog (at Roskosmos and translated into English).

Not exactly what you’d find NASA astronauts like Mike Massimino writing about, and that’s exactly what makes the reflections worth reading. We tend to receive our vision of space exploration through the American lens, so it’s great to get some outside perspective on what’s going on up there. And Suraev’s site really feels like someone’s blog.

Nuclear space tug

On the Roskosmos site is a “Presentation by A.S.Koroteev, Keldysh Center Director: ‘Significant Objectives of Space Exploration in the 21st Century’ ”, showing Powerpoint plans for a nuclear space tug (click the English flag in the top right corner).

“New Russian Crew Vehicle Simulator will be Built in Three Years”, Roskosmos, 3/11.

Simulator of the new Russian crew vehicle Rus’ will be built in three years, Director of the Simulator Design Center Valentin Shukshunov says. The process can be started once draft design of the vehicle is completed. The simulator system will consist of 4 trainers intended to train diferrent exercises. Integrated simulator is the first one to be built, then there will come docking and vehicle control simulators. In other words, Shukshunov says, the simulator will appear earlier than the vehicle itself.

Via NK №817: the training simulator for the proposed “Rus” spaceship could be created 3 years after the design of the ship is completed – in 2013 – the director of the Flight Simulator Training Center (Центра тренажеростроения), Valentine Shukshunov, has said. A virtual model would be created first, then the training apparatus. The training complex would include at least 4 different apparatus, including a complete spaceship simulator, another for docking, and another for in-orbit flight. The simulator would be ready before the actual spaceship made its first flight. For 30 years of the history of the enterprise, only once has the training apparatus been created earlier than a spaceship’s launch into space, or a space station module has been sent into an orbit. This has been the case for the training apparatus of the small laboratory module (MIM-2). The training apparatus for it already operates, though the module is not sent yet into orbit.

“Poisk Module: Brief Description”, Roskosmos, 4/11. Includes two computer images of MIM-2, though not translated into English yet.

Poisk, also known as the Mini-Research Module 2 (MRM 2), is a new Russian docking module of the International Space Station. Its original name was Docking Module 2 (Stykovochniy Otsek 2 [SO-2]), as it is almost identical to Pirs already on the station.

It will be added to the zenith port of the Zvezda module, and will serve as an additional docking port for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft and as an airlock for spacewalks. Poisk will also provide extra space for scientific experiments, and provide power-supply outlets and data-transmission interfaces for two external scientific payloads to be developed by the Russian Academy of Sciences. The mass of the module is 4,000 kg. It has a diameter of 2.6 m and length of 4.6, providing 12.5 cubic meters of internal volume.

Cosmonaut journal

Roskosmos seems to have taken inspiration from NASA and is (at long last!) hosting a journal by Maksim Suraev, now in orbit. It is currently only in Russian. [Also now in English at Russia Today]

“Why does the Cosmos attract me?”, Russian Cosmos magazine, November 2009. An interview with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. He mentions Sergei Krikalyov as they both flew on STS-60 in 1994.

Progress M-MIM2/M-MRM2 («Прогресс М-МИМ2»), carrying the new module Poisk, «Поиск» (“Search”), is due to be launched on 10 November (the day after my birthday!). The Energiya site has a series of pre-launch preparation photos.

“Russian president backs nuclear spaceship”, MSNBC.com, 28/10. Russian officials said they wanted to build a nuclear-powered spaceship (the preliminary design ready by 2012, and 9 more years to build it), an announcement met with the usual skepticism (“Show me the money!”). I am not sure if the nuclear component is a reactor powering electrical propulsion engines, or an actual nuclear rocket propelling the ship. A diagram below, which illustrates the former version (from “Russian nuclear-powered spaceship” at the Orbiter Forum):

This entry at NASASpaceflight.com also mentions the proposal. According to another commentator:

It is basically the solar electric tug Energia proposed some years ago for a Mars mission, but they now replaced the huge solar power arrays by a nuclear reactor. The solar-powered version must have been too much in terms of required orbital assembly operations (mentioned in the following link), so they opted for the nuke.

Daniel Marin has an entry (in Spanish) at his blog – “Russian nuclear ships” – detailing various Russian developments for nuclear-powered space missions.

Modules named

Via Anik at NASASpaceflight.com, the modules have been officially named, listed in launch order:

1. МИМ-2/MIM-2/MRM-2 – «Поиск»/Poisk/“Search” (launch 15/8/2009)
2. МИМ-1/MIM-1/MRM-1 – «Рассвет»/Rassvet/“Dawn” (8/4/2010)
3. МЛМ/MLM/MLM – «Наука»/Nauka/“Science” (December 2011)

“Russia celebrates half a century since touching the moon”, Energiya/RT, 14/9. It is 50 years since an unmanned Soviet spacecraft, Luna-2, landed on the lunar surface.

“Crunch time for Russia Mars probe”, BBC News, 14/9. Roskosmos was to decide whether the Phobos-Grunt probe should be delayed until the 2011 launch window; it confirmed this on the 16th as the flight control systems need more testing to confirm reliability. Disappointing, but better safe than sorry.

A PDF document, “ISS Program International Cooperation, Paris, June 17, 2009” (500 KB), can be downloaded from NASA; it is a Russian Powerpoint plan of future developments, reproduced below:

Head of Russian Federal Space Agency – ISS Program International Cooperation – Paris, June 17, 2009

1. Roscosmos View On NASA Current Plan For Human Space Flight

• Critical to the ISS program implementation are the issues of technical and transportation support (crew rotation, crew rescue, cargo delivery, etc.).
• Roscosmos welcomes NASA endeavor to speed up the development of the new piloted transportation system “Orion” and the new launch vehicle “ARES-1”.
• Successful implementation of Commercial Orbital Transportation Services for the ISS would allow to streamline technical and transportation support of the station and to make it more systematic and stable.
• NASA human space flight program looks quite balanced and promising to us.

2. Cooperation with NASA in ISS Program

• Roscosmos-NASA cooperation over recent years has provided the following results:
  • After Columbia accident in 2003 the permanent crew presence on the ISS was ensured and maintained;
  • The ISS international crews rotation has been conducted including rescue capability in case of contingency situations; the ISS cargo delivery and utilization has been ensured taking into account the planned Space Shuttle retirement in 2010;
  • ISS US Segment deployment has been completed;
  • The launch of Soyuz TMA in May 2009 increased the ISS crew up to six persons.
• Cooperation experience accumulated by Roscosmos and NASA allows us to proceed to the next stage of ISS utilization: a full-scale implementation of the national programs of scientific experiments in space and ISS utilization as an international space laboratory.

3. Desirability of ISS Operation Beyond 2016

• Completion of the ISS US segment deployment as well as Roscosmos plans to additionally equip the ISS Russian segment in the nearest future will significantly increase the ISS scientific potential.
• By 2015 the ISS will have the unique capabilities for scientific research in space, engineering development and implementation of humanitarian, educational and commercial projects.
• Taking into account these circumstances, as well as recommendations approved at June 2008 meeting of Heads of Agencies Roscosmos considers it expedient to prolong the ISS utilization term up to 2020 at the minimum.

4. Russia Future Plans For Human Space Flight Program

• The prospective plans for the Russian human space flight are determined by the Federal Space Program of Russia for the period from 2006 to 2015, the Concept of Russian Human Space Flight Development till 2020 and a number of other documents.
• The main objectives of the future human space flights are:
  • Exploration and efficient utilization of the near Earth space.
  • Study and exploration of the Moon, Mars and deep space in order to resolve global problems on the Earth and in space and to generate new knowledge for the benefit of the humankind.
• In order to achieve the above mentioned goals we expect to make the following steps in the timeframe till 2020:
  • Complete the assembly of the ISS Russian Segment and to continue its utilization in full configuration;
  • Provide the creation of the prospective crew transportation system based on a new generation piloted spacecraft;
  • Build and prepare for operation the first elements of the orbital assembly experimental piloted space complex by the end the ISS life cycle;
  • Develop elements, technologies and key systems of prospective interplanetary complexes for missions to the Moon and Mars, and develop new means and methods of biomedical support to ensure long-term human space flights, including the interplanetary flights, and so on.

5. Future Interaction With NASA In Space Exploration

• The experience gained by Russia, US and Europe in the area of piloted space complexes and their long-term utilization, including the ISS activities, allows us to proceed to the implementation of the larger-scale projects, in particular, the development of piloted spacecraft for missions to the Moon and Mars.
• Roscosmos supports the necessity of involving technical and scientific potential of other countries for such large-scale projects implementation.
• Russia finds acceptable those projects which ensure equal rights of partners who will share the obtained results and also Russia’s participation in the development of critical elements (launch vehicles, power propulsion systems, technologies and experience of long-term crew life support in space).
• In this connection Roscosmos considers it expedient to establish the international joint expert group to conduct comprehensive analysis of integration feasibility in the sphere of space exploration.

6. What has Roscosmos learned from the ISS partnership?

• Apparently, the ISS lessons show that any critical element in the project should have a backup (should be redundant). As a rule, such elements include launch vehicles, crew and cargo transportation spacecraft and Mission Control Centers.
• During the utilization phase the redundancy should be provided by various modules and project elements for the specific functions such as habitation, power supply and, partly, the payload complexes and systems.
• The ISS could serve as a unique test stand for developing advanced technologies. This process has already started and will expand as we accumulate more experience and capabilities for autonomous stay on the ISS.
• The ISS lessons show that educational and public outreach activities are very important for attracting the young people’s interest to space.
• The ISS international management structure has already demonstrated its success. It would make sense to apply this experience to other big international projects.

7. How would you characterize the Russian obligations and that of the US to the ISS in terms of its operational life?

• The main tasks of Russia and the US at this point are as follows:
  • maintenance of operation of the ISS Russian and US Segments for implementation of the national programs of space experiments and research;
  • fulfillment of mutual obligations under existing international arrangements;
  • maintenance of ground infrastructure for the ISS nominal operation;
  • transportation and technical provision of the ISS according to the agreements achieved with NASA in view of the Shuttle retirement in 2010;
  • participation in managing the ISS program (the ISS coordination boards and groups);
  • provision of the ISS efficient utilization.
• We believe that the Unites States, as the main coordinator of the project, will promote stable and planned implementation of the ISS program, including the transportation and technical provision of the station, the required conditions for the crew presence onboard, improvement of the station control structure, etc.

8. How does ISS and its extension past 2015 connect to Russia's future plans for human and robotic exploration beyond low-Earth orbit?

• By the end of the ISS life cycle Roscosmos plans to develop and prepare for operation the first elements of the orbital assembly experimental piloted space complex which will become a basis for engineering development for future human missions to Mars beyond 2030.
• It is impossible to create such a complex without a preliminary testing of its elements in space and verification of engineering solutions and technologies.
• The ISS operation experience demonstrates that the station utilization allows to solve the unique tasks of extending the life of both the station elements and the automatic space instruments (space telescopes, etc) in autonomous flight. This adds another good argument in favor of the ISS program extension till 2020 and beyond.

Accompanying diagrams:

Forward to Mars

I haven’t felt much like writing, so some catching-up to do.

“Sexual Discrimination in Space”, Roskosmos/Russia Today, 25/7. An interview with Svetlana Savitskaya, the second Russian woman in space and the first to do an EVA. Unfortunately there have been only 3 Russian women to fly in space to date (none currently in orbit), and there is still discrimination.

“Russia Reveals Vision for Manned Spaceflight”, IEEE Spectrum, August 2009. Russia revealed yet another future vision at this year’s MAKS Airshow. The ultimate goal is to get to Mars first (hooray!). Of course they don’t have the budget, so they aim for international co-operation to share the load.

“I believe that we should move [straight] to Mars…as the moon cannot be a goal by itself,” says Vitaly Lopota, the head of RKK Energia. “Nevertheless, all the infrastructure that we are proposing for the Interplanetary Expeditionary Complex could be used for operations in Earth orbit, but also for the lunar exploration, if such goals emerge,” Lopota told IEEE Spectrum.

Anatoly Zak, the article’s author, will be following developments on his website.

“NASA suggests teaming up with Russia for Mars flight”, RIAN, 25/8. Don’t know how serious this is! It generated the usual cynicism and paranoid patriotism on this thread at NASASpaceflight.com forum.

Some differing opinions via NK №803 on how far in the future a Mars mission might be – hopefully sooner than later! Nice to see that some in the industry want to go to Mars first. (NSF.com thread)

25/08/2009 / 20:07 – Manned expedition to Mars will not take place in less than a hundred years

In today’s economic and scientific situation, the prospect of sending a manned expedition to Mars is unprofitable, Boris Chertok – Chief Scientific Adviser, Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences – said today at the Sixth International Aerospace Congress.

“Until now, a manned mission not made the fundamental discoveries of such a level as unmanned,” he said. “It is therefore wiser to spend money on exploration of Mars machine than an expensive place to send an expedition, which will bring no more, and perhaps even less information.”

According to the academician, “the time for human flight to the Red Planet will come in a hundred years, at least fifty, while the same slogan of modern space must be “Forward to Mars!” And “Onward to the moon!” NASA is planning an expedition to Mars after 2020.

According to the scientist, “people must return to the moon not to promote the national image, but as a researcher, and must return there for a long time.” And Chertok sees a man not so much space explorers as “assembler, builder, and in the future – space tourist.”

28/08/2009 / 00:05 – A full-scale manned expedition to Mars could be realized in the years 2029-2031 – Academician at the RAS

A full-scale manned expedition to Mars could be realized in 2029-2031, respectively. This opinion was expressed in Moscow, at the Sixth International Aerospace Congress by Lev Zelenyi, Academician at the Russia Academy of Sciences, director of the RAS Space Research Institute.

He said the manned mission will be preceded by several preparatory steps. In the first stage, in the period from 2012 to 2020 an engineering model of the physical conditions in the flight path, around and on the surface of Mars will be created through a special program of automated scientific satellites, including meteorological conditions in the atmosphere. The rationale for the choice of a landing site will be made as well.

In the second stage, from 2018 to 2025, it is expected to work out the infrastructure elements of the Martian expedition.

For the third – from 2025 to 2028 – there will be implemented a piloted flight expedition to the placing of an inhabited spacecraft into orbit around Mars, with the possibility of controlling automatic moving vehicles on the Martian surface from orbit.

“A full-scale manned expedition to landing on the Martian surface can be realized in 2029-2031 years,” says Zelenyi. The Academician himself has no doubt that if you choose between a flight to the Moon and Mars, it is better to make a choice in favor of the red planet. “I belong to the ‘left’ faction, which believes that the study of Mars is more interesting than the Moon” – an insider joke, he said. “At Mars, we can expect great discoveries,” he suggests.

Past glories

“Can a Space Museum Help Russia Get Its Glory Back?”, TIME, 17/5. The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow reopened after 3 years of renovations. (Its website still is not online yet, though.) There is a relevant thread at NASASpaceflight.com. I found this comment by a visitor insightful:

Wandering past model rockets, orange cosmonaut suits emblazoned with red U.S.S.R. emblems and a diorama of happy cosmonaut mannequins sitting around a campfire next to a crashed space capsule waiting for pickup, Lynn Nordstrom of Albuquerque, N.M., and her two sons – in Moscow for the Eurovision song contest – say they are enjoying their visit. But “after looking at this, I’m afraid of the Egypt syndrome, where all you do is talk about how great you used to be,” Nordstrom says. “The museum is terrific, but you need to look to the future. My whole youth was spent hearing about the U.S.S.R. making advances in science and us always feeling like we were behind.” Now, with a revamped museum, a new rocket program and possibly a new space base, it’s Russia that’s trying to catch up.

This comment, in a scene from a story I’m writing, makes much the same point:

“Our space program has endured much since the Fall,” the General Designer continued with passion – they all knew what he referred to: the disastrous and traumatizing collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. “Our once-great space program is now reduced to providing Soyuz taxi rides for foreign astronauts and bored wealthy space tourists! The first General Designer, Sergei Korolyov, would be horrified. We get little mention in the foreign media – all attention is on NASA, and also China as the next upcoming space power.” The others nodded and murmured in agreement.

“This is our chance to regain some of that glory before we fade into obscurity, looking back nostalgically at the greatness that once was.”

From NK №782 – another assertion that the Phobos-Grunt, «Фобос-Грунт» probe really will launch this year:

12/05/2009/20:15 – There are no doubts as regards the date of the launch of the “Fobos-Grunt” probe, says Roskosmos

There are no doubts as regards the date of the launch of the “Fobos-Grunt” probe. The assistant to the head of the Federal Space Agency Roskosmos, Anatoly Shilov, asserted this today at a press conference.

He has reminded that according to the plan, Fobos-Grunt should start in the second half of October 2009. Another similar launch window will open only in 2011. Earlier, some in the mass-media reported about possibility of carrying over of the launch date to then.

“We are making all efforts to ensure that this launch will take place according to plan,” Shilov said. “While all turns out. Today such fears are not present.”

The Russian automatic interplanetary station is intended for researching Phobos, the companion of Mars , and delivery of soil samples back to Earth.

Some in the NSF.com Phobos-Grunt thread feel that it is better for the launch to be delayed and thus ensure everything is working right, rather than rush for a launch this year. It would be extremely disheartening for the first Russian probe launch in 13 years to end up like Mars-96!

Grim City

“Russia’s cosmonauts prepare for letdown”, LA Times, 10/4. A rather gloomy account by a reporter who was given a (paid) tour of the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, portraying it as a mordant and run-down place. Cosmonaut Yurii Baturin had some pointed remarks about the space program:

Yuri Baturin is the only cosmonaut authorized to speak with reporters. He has cotton-white hair, tinted glasses and the calm presence of a man who, after two voyages into space, has lost the capacity to worry over details. You ask him about the Russian program and prepare yourself for exuberance.

Instead, Baturin pauses and sighs.

“This is a very difficult and painful question, because it’s not very proper to criticize your own government, especially in a foreign newspaper,” he says. “But our politicians who talk about the space program don’t understand a thing about it. I state today that Russia does not have a real space program.”

You remember when you’d just gotten to Moscow and your Russian-language teacher mentioned Yuri Gagarin. She stared, stupefied, at your blank face, as if contemplating whether she could teach her language to a cretin who didn’t recognize the name of the first man to soar into space.

And now here you are, eyeball to eyeball with an heir to Gagarin’s heroic legacy, and the more he talks, the more disappointed he sounds.

“Our space agency for several years is not calling the tender for a new ship,” he says. “They don’t know what for and where to fly.”

And: “The politicians don’t understand the complexity of the task. They announce Russia will land on Mars by 2030, which creates the illusion that Russia has a mission to Mars… [but] the government should not just try to be the first to put a flag on Mars.”

Finally: “Space tourism is only harmful to the Russian space program, in my opinion. In the corridors here you can find dozens of cosmonauts who would have accompanied a flight in the past seven years but didn’t because their seat was occupied by a tourist. It leads us into a dead end.”

[…]

Later, you’ll try to figure out whether what he said was true: whether, behind the screen of extravagant political statements, high-rolling space tourism junkets and U.S. dependence on Russia for lifts to the space station, there is a vacuum of purpose and projects. You ask around, and others agree.

“Unfortunately, we can’t say right now that Russia has a powerful space program,” Igor Marinin, editor in chief of Space News magazine, says when you call. “For a very long time we simply lived on the verge of extinction.”

“Russia to start flight-testing new cargo spacecraft in 2016-17”, 13/4, RIAN/Space Daily. Announcement by Energiya chief Vitalii Lopota on the spacecraft-rocket transport system to be designed by Energiya for Roskosmos’ Advanced Crew Transport System (PPTS). The spacecraft is to be launched at the Vostochnyi, Восточный space center (near Uglegorsk in the Amur region of eastern Russia), this to be completed in 5 years and operational in 2015.

Charred cosmonaut

A thread at the CollectSPACE.com forum links to an online photo of what are purportedly the remains of cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, who died on impact in the Soyuz-1 landing after its parachutes malfunctioned. Being the ghoulish and morbidly curious type, I have to post the photo below (in case it disappears):

From one post:

I think these paragraphs in the Kamanin Diaries 1967-68 (General Kamanin is on the right adjusting his tie) give the context of when the picture was taken:

Kamanin returned to the place of the accident and ordered a group of doctors to remove Komarov’s body from the ship’s wreckage…at 21.45 (Moscow time) Komarov’s remains were placed aboard the II-18 airplane. Ten minutess before departure an An-12 arrived from the cosmodrome with General Kuznetsov and the Soyuz-2 prime and back-up cosmonauts, who would accompany their perished colleague to Moscow… Komarov’s remains were transferred to the morgue of the Burdenko hospital in Moscow, allowing doctors to write an official report on the cause of death. Subsequently the remains were cremated and an urn with the ashes was placed in the central House of the Soviet Army later that day were endless line of people came to pay their respects. The following day Komarov’s ashes were interred in the Kremlin Wall.

My initial impression on looking at that was “lump of charcoal” – not much left of him! He died immediately on impact, then the capsule burst into flame.

From Challenge to Apollo, page 587:

Finding the body had been a difficult job. One of the rescuers recalled:

The group’s physicians set to work – they shoveled away the top layer of dirt from the top of the mound from the hatch cover. After the dirt and certain parts of instruments and equipment were removed, the cosmonaut’s body was found lying in the center chair. The physicians cleaned the dirt and the remnants of the burned helmet phone from the head. They pronounced the death to be from multiple injuries to the cranium, spinal cord and bones.

[…]

In a grisly aside to his death, not all of Komarov’s remains were found during the initial search, and a group of Young Pioneers, the equivalent of Boy Scouts in the Soviet Union, discovered additional remains that were later buried at the crash site itself. Reportedly, Party officials took great pains to hide this from the general public.

I wonder how they could determine so much detail from those remains, if they are him.

Progress M-01M/№401, the first of the new Progresses with new onboard computer, TsVM-101, a digital telemetry system, launched on 26/11.

Grumpy Old Moonwalker

As reported at NASA Watch, former Moonwalker Harrison “Jack” Schmitt resigned from the Planetary Society, apparently miffed over the direction their goals have taken (as stated in this press release): namely, focus on a manned mission to Mars first (rather than the Moon) as a goal, and strive for international co-operation. These are laudable goals in my opinion (the Moon has been landed on and is rather boring anyway – unless there happen to be mysterious alien monoliths to be discovered!), but it’s brought out the Cranky Conservatives in the comments, who are paranoid and insular, and are horrified at the prospect of co-operating with “them foreigners”. I posted a somewhat irate comment:

He’s a cranky old conservative with outdated, insular views (like some of the posters above :-P ). I’d love to see an INTERNATIONAL Mars mission!! [From an exasperated 38-year-old female :-)]

He also thinks global warming a hoax, which doesn’t say much for his scientific credibility.

One would think that the humbling experience of seeing the Earth from the Moon would have broadened his views, but apparently not.

I would, in fact, rather have seen an international Mars mission launched, rather than the ISS project, but too late for that now.

“40 Years Later, It’s Moon Race 2.0”, TIME magazine, 13/11. The media seems obsessed to a tedious degree with the prospect of a “space race”. Nations new to spaceflight are sending out space probes, namely India (who landed a probe last week from the Chandrayaan-1 Moon satellite) , China and Japan. Russia barely gets a mention except as providers of the Soyuz taxi service to the ISS; a sad contrast to the Soviet era.

“Russian ISS spacecraft producer Energia gets $106 mln loan”, RIAN, 17/11. Energiya managed to get bank credit to allow them to construct more Soyuz and Progress spacecraft (2.9 billion rubles for a period of up to 12 November 2010).

“A Russian resurgence? (part two)”, The Space Review, 17/11.

I neglected to mention that this blog is now just over 2 years old! Not that it is hugely popular…

My Firefox browser is currently reporting the Russian Federal Space Agency site as an attack site, possibly through third-party applications (a reason not to use these):

Malicious software is hosted on 3 domain(s), including mmcounter.com, yanndex.su, ff-freehosting.com. 2 domain(s) appear to be functioning as intermediaries for distributing malware to visitors of this site, including yanndex.su, mmcounter.com.

Hope they fix that soon! Considering it’s an official government site, it is rather poor!

Chinese mission successful

China’s third manned spaceflight and first spacewalk last weekend were successful.

• Space Daily: “First Chinese EVA Goes Off Smoothly”, 27/9; “China astronauts return as heroes after historic spacewalk”, 28/9; “Good Grades For Shenzhou 7”, 29/9
• Spacefacts: Shenzhou VII page

“Now, NASA and Russians need each other”, MSNBC.com, 1/10. A new James Oberg opinion piece on the contentious NASA deal with Russia to fly NASA astronauts during the period where the Shuttle is retired and whenever Orion makes its first flight.

“Magnetic Hunger Could Drive Space Travelers Insane”, RIAN/Space Daily, 2/10. Rat experiments have shown that the absence of Earth’s magnetic field has deleterious effects on the brain, which has implications for long spaceflights to Mars.

News tidbits

A news roundup from NK; the usual computer translations. Cosmonaut sea survival training, Russia’s space budget, another space tourist craft proposal, the new Russian Orlan-MK spacesuits, an IMBP experiment.

Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №210:

18/06/2008/00:08 – The annual training of cosmonauts began in the District of Sevastopol, with the support of the Black Sea Fleet rescuers

At the Black Sea on June 17 began the annual training exercises for the cosmonauts. According to Igor Dygalo, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, “The training in the sea in the vicinity of Sevastopol Center is conducted by the GCTC cosmonauts in conjunction with the Office of Search and Rescue of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia.”

According to Dygalo, the purpose of exercises, which are a serious test for all participants in the upcoming flights, including backup crews and visiting crews, is “the development of the spacecraft crews’ skills of action after an unexpected splashdown of the capsule at descent.” Two Black Sea fleet vessels are provided for the cosmonauts’ training.

Weather in the area is conductive to the holding of the exercises: water temperature 21 degrees, cloudy, sea nearly completely calm.

20/06/2008/00:08 – Russia spends two times less in space than the USSR

Financing of Russian civil space has fallen more than twice since Soviet times, said Roskosmos. In 2007, the civilian space programs of Roskosmos was allocated $1.34 billion, while in 1989 the Soviet space program funding was $3.28 billion, said the report, published on the Federal Space Agency site.

From 1991 to 2004, Russia spent on space roughly the same as India. Only in 2004 did the budget of Roscosmos exceed that of the Indian Space Agency and amounted to $770 million. In 2006, funding for the Russian space program has been increased by another $100 million, the report said.

In so doing, it is still at $400 million below the cost of France for civilian space and $600 million below the cost of space in Japan. The European Space Agency is funding its space programme in the amount of $4.3 billion, that is more than three times as much as “generous” Russia. NASA’s space and aeronautics budget, the report noted, has grown from $11 billion to $17 billion since 1989. Over the past seven years, NASA costs are increasing annually by about $500 million.

Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №211:

24/06/2008/20:31 – Russian scientists began an experiment to prevent diseases requiring surgical intervention during interplanetary travel

At the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IMBP), Russian Academy of Sciences an experiment began on June 24 that will help scientists to develop a methodology for treatment of diseases requiring surgical intervention for future interplanetary expeditions, reported IMBP press secretary Pavel Morgunov.

“The experiment will last about a month, during which at least 8 healthy volunteers aged from 20 to 35 years will be required several times during the day to lie in conditions simulating the effects of microgravity (where the legs are up in the air at 15 degrees above the head),” he explained. In doing so, scientists will conduct infusion therapy (intravenous solutions introducing various drugs) and observe the redistribution of body fluids during the stay of subjects under the conditions of “weightlessness”.

In orbital flight when a disease requires an urgent operation, or is a critical condition, there is the opportunity to suspend the expedition as soon as possible and return the cosmonaut to Earth, recalled Morgunov, but this would not be possible during an interplanetary mission. Therefore, when preparing the system of medical support for an interplanetary flight, scientists are obliged to consider these principles and develop techniques for treatment of these diseases.

One of the fundamental components of surgical care and intensive therapy is infusion therapy. Modern hardware makes it possible to carry out infusion therapy even under weightlessness conditions. However, since there is no data on the impact of infusion in different environments on the parameters of the central and peripheral hemodynamics, gas exchange microcirculation and tissue in conditions of spaceflight, the scientists suggested a series of experiments modeling the effects of spaceflight to determine the impact on the effectiveness of various infusion media. According to Morgunov, “it is planned to assess the influence of some solutions on the volume of circulating blood, central and peripheral hemodynamics, the state of the microcirculation, tissue gas exchange and rheological properties of blood.”

After each day “resting”, the subject will undergo a thorough examination, because the main purpose of the experiment is “to compare the effectiveness of some infusion media in compensating for the losses of fluid in conditions simulating the effects of microgravity.”

24/06/2008/20:31 On the ISS next year crews will work in open space in the new “smart” Russian spacesuit

On the ISS, where crews are now working in open space, the complete replacement of the “Orlan-M” Russian spacesuit with the more modern “Orlan-MK” is scheduled.. The first Orlan-MK will be taken into orbit at the end of this year on a Progress Russian cargo ship, and in early 2009, to the International Space Station will receive two more, Sergei Pozdnyakov – general director of the “Zvezda” Scientific and industrial enterprise, where all domestic spacesuits are manufactured – said Tuesday.

The new spacesuits will gradually replace the ISS Orlan-M at the end of their life, which have faithfully “served” several crews.

The Orlan-MK is the fifth Orlan version and the first computerized Russian spacesuit, Pozdnyakov said. In the process of donning the suit, it prompts the cosmonaut for the sequence of system checks he must follow before going out in open space and reports on the status of these systems. If there are abnormal situations – for example, increased consumption of oxygen, etc. – relevant information is displayed on the signal panel, with a warning beep and instructions on what procedure to follow.

The new “intelligent” spacesuit would avoid situations like what happened during the exit of ISS Expedition 9 in June 2004. At the very beginning of EVA activities, the TsUP Mission Control Center specialists recorded an oxygen leak in Michael Fincke’s spacesuit, and the crew was forced to return to the station. The determination of the cause of the pressure drop in the Orlan took several hours, and the EVA was postponed for a few days. Now the spacesuit itself will “communicate” with the cosmonaut as to the reason for his “malaise”.

According to Pozdnyakov, ISS Expedition 18, which will be launched into orbit in October, has already trained to operate the Orlan-MK. If a cosmonaut forgets a procedure during an EVA, a special program will help him translate into the more simple Orlan-M management regime.

The new EVA suit weighs 120 kg and has a service life of 15 EVAs within 4 years of operation. In open space it protects the cosmonaut from the low barometric pressure, ionizing radiation, solar power, and micrometeorites. The system uses a high-performance thermal method of diverting the heat emitted by man through a water cooling garment. The intensity of heat removal is manually controlled by the cosmonaut by reallocating water flows coming in the heat exchanger for cooling.

24/06/2008/20:31 in the Black Sea near Sevastopol Russian, Canadian and Dutch astronauts are training

In the Black Sea near Sevastopol cosmonauts from Russia, Canada and the Netherlands are training. “The purpose of training is to prepare cosmonauts for a possible splashdown in the sea in the event of unexpected situations in orbit,” Yurii Gidzenko – pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of the Russian Federation, head of special training at the Cosmonaut Training Centre – told reporters .

“During one week we train two crew, which include not only Russian cosmonauts, but one astronaut each from Canada and Holland. They come to replace another two crews, who are also within seven days will be trained,” emphasized Gidzenko. In doing so, he clarified that “the technical equipment for training includes the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships and special equipment which was brought from the town of Star City.”

According Gidzenko, the sea training of cosmonauts was formerly conducted in Feodosia, Kudepste and other coastal cities. “For the past five years, cosmonauts have trained in Sevastopol. This is convenient and for us and the seamen the base is nearby with ships on the spot,” he said.

Gidzenko also noted the “close economic and scientific link” between Roscosmos and the National Space Agency of Ukraine. “We do not and never had problems with our Ukrainian colleagues,” the Russian pilot-astronaut asserted.

24/06/2008/20:31 – Russian small spacecraft “Dandelion”, designed exclusively for space tourism, to appear by 2012

A Russian small spacecraft (IAC) «Одуванчик» (Oduvanchik, “Dandelion”), designed exclusively for space tourism, will appear by 2012. This assumption was made on Tuesday at a press conference in Moscow by Igor Bulanov, Vice-Chancellor, Chairman of the department “Rocket and Space composite structures” at the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman.

The specialized ship, which will “convey” only space tourists into orbit, is being developed by students and scientists at MSTU. According Bulanov “at the moment already started production of ship models.” “Tentatively, we expect to finish work by 2012,” he said.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, Dandelion can not be compared with any similar development in the world – it was “much cheaper and outperformed many other proposals.”

It is anticipated that Dandelion will take on board a pilot and four passengers or 600 kg of payload, and will perform a suborbital or orbital flights. It will be able to take off from a mobile automatic platform installed anywhere, and to land both with the aid of the parachutes and independently on a takeoff and landing runway.

“The Glass ceiling In Space”, Space Daily, 17/6. On the dismal state of Russia’s women cosmonauts (only 3 made it into space, and there are currently no active ones, though there is one in the training group, Elena Serova).

“Options for space tourists”, RIA Novosti, 23/6. Andrei Kislyakov opinion piece. Russia began space tourism, but has not managed it very well.

Pavel Vinogradov, a pilot-cosmonaut and deputy head of the Energiya Rocket Space Corporation, says: “Regrettably, space tourism is a big headache for us today. It does not resolve any financial problems, and undermines the foundations of our cosmonautics. We have to replace young cosmonauts with tourists… They are all good people but they are not professionals. Regrettably, we can only find room for them at the expense of professionals.”

More space tourist hype

“Russia could learn from U.S. space program”, RIA Novosti, 9/6. Andrei Kislyakov opinion piece, reiterating what was mentioned in my previous entry.

Space Daily: “Two Suits For Shenzhou”; “China manned space flight set for October”.China is to launch Shenzhou-7 with 3 taikonauts aboard in October, one (or maybe two) of whom will perform a spacewalk.

“Google co-founder aims for space”, Cosmic Log, 11/6. More ambitious Russia-related space tourist plans were announced last week by Space Adventures: it is to purchase a Soyuz flight and fly 2 space tourists with a cosmonaut pilot, one of who will be Sergei Brin (a founder of Google), but Anatolii Perminov denied that he had information about any of these plans.  ‘There is simply no room for space tourists,’ he was quoted as saying. ‘Space tourism will be suspended.’ ” The professional cosmonauts, many of whom have been waiting for their first flight for more than 10 years, won’t be impressed! As I have grumbled many times before, the Russian space program has degenerated into a Soyuz taxi service, not a real exploration program. Tourism should be done by private operators (if they ever manage to get viable spaceships going).

More funding needed

Some tidbits from NK news.

Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №707:

3/6/2008/18:00 – Russia and the United States are finalizing negotiations on the delivery of American astronauts to the ISS aboard the Soyuz Russian spacecraft

The outcome of the negotiations between Russia and the United States on the use of Russian spacecraft for the delivery of NASA astronauts on the International Space Station during the period from 2011 till 2013, will be known this week, Mark Bouman, Deputy Head of NASA manned programs in Russia, told journalists on Monday. “The results will be known in meetings this week. The decision of the U.S. Congress concerning this matter will be known towards the end of summer,” said the NASA representative.

According to him, the Russian delegation is now in Houston, “and is negotiating on the matter.” From 2010, the U.S. shuttles will cease their flights. The new manned spacecraft which will replace them, according to reports by NASA, may not appear before 2015, From 2009 to 2011 NASA astronauts will have to fly to the ISS on the Russian Soyuz spaceship. To deliver astronauts to the Station after the deadline, the U.S. Congress this year should allow NASA to purchase seats from Russia on the manned Soyuz.

4/6/2008/13:40 – RAN Academicians are concerned about the state of the Russian scientific space program

The academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences are concerned about the state of Russia’s scientific space program. Leading national experts in the field of space research expressed this opinion in an interview with an ITAR-TASS correspondent.

Thus, the director of the Institute for Space Studies academician Lev Zelenyi, in particular, said: “We certainly are waiting for a new, clear, ambitious program. And I – and particularly our young scientists,” added the academician, “want it to be bold, ambitious and to again put Russia at the forefront of world space science.”

For his part, Academician Anatoly Grigoryev, the director of the Institute of Medico-Biological Problems, expressed hope that “we will better exploit the International Space Station. When in the near future it will support a crew of six people,” added the scientist, “ the opportunities will be greater and it is thus most important that our Russian modules are completed on time and that they are replete with science. Then we will be on parity with the rest of the world community,” stressed Academician Grigoryev. “Look, the Europeans have launched their module, the Japanese module is launched, the Americans launch module, but we remain behind. But I hope that we will launch soon.” According to him, “we understand it is necessary to fly to get new knowledge.” Talking about the work of his institute, Grigoriev, in particular, said that “our dream is, of course, to fly far and long. Unfortunately,” he said “for objective reasons the Mars-500 experiment has been delayed a little, but I hope that next year [2009] we'll begin. This will be a small step in the understanding of how people live in an isolated environment with life-support systems that can adequately maintain the necessary conditions.”

“We are now rapidly losing position in the scientific space, although the country had been No. 1,” noted Yuri Osipov, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. “After the failed launch of the 1996 Mars-96 space probe, we were able to subsequently launch only two scientific apparatus. Many of our projects are postponed from year to year and this has resulted in the international participants of our projects simply leaving. A clear example is the absolutely original project ‘Radioastron’, in which the Americans invested nearly 100 million dollars, but because we have delayed the launch of the facility from year to year because of lack of funds, the Americans withdrew from the project.”

As another example, the “Spectra” program of space observatories where we were absolute leaders, too, was canceled, because the Europeans left it. Again, we are violating the timing of launches,” stressed Yuri Osipov, “this is an acute problem.”

Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №708:

6/6/2008/00:20 – Russia has spent 30 times less on the ISS than the USA

Russia has spent about $ 3.5 billion to construct its segment of the International Space Station (ISS) and the implementation of scientific programmes, said Vitalii Lopota, the President of the Rocket and Space Corporation Energiya, in an article posted on the Roscosmos site on Wednesday.

“For 10 years the Russian budget (Roscosmos) spent for this purpose (ISS creation and implementation of scientific programmes – IF-AVN) in the order of U.S. $2 billion, and there is already about $100 billion invested in this project.” In addition, said V. Lopota, in providing a range of services, RSC Energiya earned and sent to the ISS development of $1.3 billion, that is “40% of all funds invested by Russia.” This, according to the head of the corporation, “allowed domestic cooperation to survive in the difficult years and save the Russian space industry from collapse.”

He also said that the market of space services today ranges from 170 to 200 billion dollars a year. “And unfortunately, the share of Russia, including all services, is less than 1%,” said V. Lopota.

He added that the United States spends 12-13 times greater on space programmes, and China spends three times more than Russia. According to him, the United States spent up to 95% of its budget on space development in Earth orbit, primarily geostationary, and to meet the challenges on the Exploration and Development of deep space it allocated no more than 5% of the budget. In addition, the head of RKK Energia said that the cost of shipping into orbit 1 kg is $10-12 thousand, and each astronaut used in their daily life about 10 kg of cargo, including water, food, etc.

6/6/2008/00:20 – By 2015, in the Russian segment of the International Space Station will be nine modules for various purposes

RSC Energiya is implementing the program for the development of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), said Vitalii Lopota, the president of RSC Energiya. “At the Russian segment of the ISS based on the anticipated government funding, work should be allocated in two stages: the building of the Station’s infrastructure and its functional capacity. In doing so, by 2015 must work nine modules,” said V. Lopota, the text of which is posted on the official Roscosmos site.

Now the ISS RS is composed of three modules. Among them, there is are no scientific modules. V. Lopota reported that in 2009 and 2010 there is planned to add two small research modules in the Russian segment of the Station. In 2011, a multi-laboratory module is planned to be constructed, which will add 12 working places to the segment. “This module is a key in expanding our scientific program,” he said.

In addition, he said, in 2012 a new docking module with a few ports and gateways will be added to the ISS Russian segment. According to V. Lopota, an important task is boosting the energy capabilities of the ISS Russian segment. “We will need to provide full energy resources in the years 2014-2015,” said the head of RSC Energiya.

He said that the termination of American shuttle flights in the coming years will increase pressure on the Russian “Progress” transport cargo spacecraft. “The number of launches will increase. Virtually every two months we will be undocking a cargo ship from the Station.” Today, Russia launches three or four Progress ships to the ISS each year.

From a Roskosmos news item:

7/6/2008: Russia may send ships to Mars and the Moon after 2020

Russia is considering the possibility of manned flights to the Moon and Mars after 2020. This was stated today by Anatoly Perminov, the head of the Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos), in a broadcast by the “Russia” TV channel.

“We are considering the possibility of manned flights to the Moon and Mars after 2020, making use of the cosmodrome Vostochnyi (Восточный, East) (Amur Region),” the head of Roscosmos said. “By this time new manned ships will be introduced.”

He also said that if the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) increases to six people, Russia will be forced to suspend the flights of space tourists. “If in 2009 the leaders of heads of national space agencies will come to an agreement to increase the ISS crew to six people, Russia will be forced to suspend flights of space tourists,” said the Roscosmos head.

“Siberian Tiger” at the Orbiter Forum posted Vladimir Soloviev’s report on the RS/ISS development, with some cellphone photos of diagrams – more at the NK forum: Перспективные ракетно-космические системы РКК Энергия (“RKK Energiya’s projected rocket & space systems”) (lot of images on the page).

ISS toilet troubles continue

“Space station struggles with balky toilet”, James Oberg, MSNBC.com, 27/5. An overview of the ISS ASU malfunction. Despite attempted fixes it is still not working properly, so some spare parts will be flown up on the next Shuttle flight.

Byerly did not address other reports, passed along privately to MSNBC.com, that a “fabrication flaw” has been discovered in the toilet’s compressor units. One source in Houston said that the hardware used there for crew training may be flown to Florida for launch aboard Discovery, even though it too is expected to fail quickly. The source was not authorized to discuss the situation publicly, and thus spoke on condition of anonymity.

A major new unit, intended to allow the expansion of crew size from three to six members, is being prepared for launch late this year. Until then, the current hardware – and the supply of “Apollo bags” for fecal collection – may have to suffice. And if previous experience is any guide, the Russian engineers and cosmonauts will find McGyver-type solutions to make it work.

Ugh! Maybe the crew should go on a “low-residue” diet until the parts are replaced! From the latest 27/5 ISS Daily Report:

ASU Update: Troubleshooting continues on the Russian ASU toilet facility. Almost all system components have been changed out at this time, including the separator with no improvement in function. Specialists feel the problem is with the separator pump, though they have never before seen this failure signature. New procedures for temporary manual operation of the pump are in work, and the crew is using a backup system of wring collectors which are functioning nominally. Since they are a consumable, 1J is being last-minute manifested with additional wring collectors and a new ASU separator pump (KSC ground unit).

“Time To Break Out The Bags” at NASA Watch gives instances of where the ASU has been down before, though these are relatively minor. 14/2/2005: ASU parts were replaced as they had come to the end of their operational life; 29/7/2003: three components replaced. The ASU has otherwise been generally reliable.

[To clarify, the urine collection is affected, not the solid waste collection!]

“The losing hand: tradition and superstition in spaceflight”, The Space Review, 27/5. An overview of various spaceflight superstitions. (I have a page at my “RuSpace” website describing some.)