Russian Space Program: News & Discussion #1

Nice, The replacement of traditional kerosene with a liquefied natural gas could produce a higher specific impulse , lower cost (30 percent less than kerosene), more effective cooler for the combustion chamber(Cooling capability of methane is also three times higher than that of kerosene ) and ofcourse ease of maintainance.

Austin wrote:The new "Soyuz-5" will fly on natural gas

On the basis of a rocket "Soyuz-5" will be to create a series of media including heavy and superheavy modification

Rocket and Space Center "Progress" (Samara) is finalizing construction of a new carrier rocket "Soyuz-5", which will run on compressed natural gas.

According to the news agency TASS General Director Alexander Kirilin, "a new perspective on the modern rocket fuel - liquefied natural gas, its cost-effectiveness is achieved through harmonization and reduce the range of parts assembly units."In turn, the first deputy general director of the center Ravil Akhmetov explained that the liquefied natural gas - a cleaner fuel than kerosene, and has great energy capabilities.

On the basis of "Soyuz-5" will be to create a series of missiles, including heavy and superheavy. This is achieved via the use of a completely new scheme - two-stage vehicle with two side blocks.

According Kirillina, the center will offer to include the project in the Federal Space Program for the period 2016-2025 years. It is planned that the "Soyuz-5" will be created by 2021. The new missile is planned to launch from the Baikonur East in the Amur region.

Well what do you know... Clearly they are copying my original ideas. 

So why are they making Angara then , I was under the impression Angara will replace both Proton and Soyuz in Russia.

So Soyuz-5 and Angara are both project that will go ahead ?

thez are not ,soyuz is made by tskb progress , and angara by chrunichev kb , so competing model , there is a methane rocket engine tested and could be produced but its of little beneffit , impulse is slightly better actually not that much as expected C-H bond is strong in methane , but methane in liquid form is cryogenic which is always problematic ,and fuel costs in total rocket costs are 5% , and article says project will be proposed to space agency. not that it will be made. payloads are simmilar even looks simmilar to angara so its a no -go ,probably reserve plan in case angara failed.

Methane/LNG powered rockets are ideal for reusability as the fuels are cheap, and methane combustion doesn't leave coke residue in the turbopumps.

Roscosmos to consider draft design of a super-heavy rocket soon
Russian Aviaton » Wednesday February 18, 2015 22:44 MSK

The Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) will soon consider draft designs of the Russian super-heavy launch vehicle (LV) submitted by Russian enterprises, TASS reports with reference to the CEO of Space Rocket Center Progress Alexander Kirilin (the enterprise has also submitted its draft design for consideration).

“It is expected that the Science and Technology Council of Roscosmos will consider draft designs of the super-heavy rocket submitted by Russian enterprises and one of them will be approved,” he said.
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Kirilin added that RSC Progress submitted technical proposals for development of a LV using alternative fuel – liquefied natural gas to the Federal Space Agency. This project may be implemented in cooperation with Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center responsible for development of an upper stage of the new rocket. “Further activities will depend on decisions made by Roscosmos,” the CEO of the Samara-based enterprise added.

Yuri Koptev was appointed Chairman of the Science and Technology Council of Roscosmos, TASS reported with reference to the agency’s press-service. We remind you that Yuri Koptev was appointed Chairman of the Science and Technology Council of the United Rocket and Space Corporation earlier. He is also the former head of Rosaviacosmos, which was then transformed into the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).

It is expected that the super-heavy launch vehicle will be developed in the network of the Federal Space Program for 2016-2025. Its configuration should have been approved this January. Ex-head of Roscosmos, Oleg Ostapenko said that the rocket will be developed in two stages: at first the LV with a payload of 70-80 tons and then the LV with a payload of up to 190 tons. According to him, at first stage the rocket will be powered by an engine using oxygen, hydrogen and kerosene, and then methane-fueled engines will be developed.

Space Complex in Yevpatoria to Be Completely Reequipped Up to 2020

A separate command-measuring complex in Yevpatoria will be equipped with the new technology until 2020, the Commander of Aerospace Defense Force Alexander Golovko told reporters.

“Minister of Defense approved a roadmap up to 2020 for the development of this military unit. In accordance with this roadmap, we included the funds to receive new equipment and to educate new personnel,” he said.

“This unit has great opportunities, as it is very well located geographically and now contributes to the country’s defense,” Golovko said.

According to him, the Ministry of Defense is developing a program with Roscosmos of sharing of unique apparatus of the command-measuring complex in Yevpatoria. “This station is own by the Ministry of Defence. There are plans for joint use with the Russian Space Agency. The relevant situation is now being developed by the military department,” he said.

yeah thats a 70m diameter steerable single dish, largest in the world , 1 is in vladivostok far east and second in uzbekistan . usa has 1 in california , good not only for radio stronomy but communication with far away probes to venus, mars, etc....

Russia’s Progress M-26M to raise space station’s orbit on February 26

Space station’s orbit will be raised by approximately 1.1 kilometers, the Russian Mission Control said

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Russia’s Progress M-26M space carrier, docked with the International Space Station (ISS), will switch its engines for less than five minutes on Thursday afternoon to raise the space station’s orbit by approximately 1.1 kilometers, the Russian Mission Control said.

According to the Mission Control, the maneuver will be conducted at 12:16 p.m. Moscow time [9:16 GMT] and boosters of the Progress M-26M will be switched on for 284.7 seconds. The orbit of the space station will be raised as a result of the maneuver to 402.3 kilometers (250 miles).

Earlier a source in the rocket and space industry told TASS that another adjustment of the ISS orbit could also take place on February 28 to avoid station’s possible collision with space debris, but the final decision on this correction would be made on February 26.

Russia’s Progress M-26M cargo spacecraft blasted off to the ISS from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on February 17 and docked with the station six hours later.

The spacecraft delivered for the station’s crew water, food supplies and different equipment worth an overall weight of 2,370 kilograms (5,225 lbs). The current ISS crew comprises Russian cosmonauts Aleksandr Samokutyayev, Yelena Serova and Anton Shkaplerov, NASA astronauts Barry Willmore and Terry Virts and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

The station’s orbit is adjusted regularly to ensure safe docking of the freighters and manned spacecraft as well as to avoid possible collision with space debris.

After fulfilling their missions to the ISS, space freighters are usually deorbited and burnt in the atmosphere on their way to the Earth. Remains of spacecraft, which did not burn, are usually buried in the remote area of the Pacific Ocean.

The non-navigation area at the issue is also referred to as the "spaceship cemetery" and is located not far from the Christmas Island. This is a designated area, where numerous spacecraft, including the defunct Soviet space station Mir, were sunk.

Russia to Create National Space Station after 2024

The Scientific and Technical Council of the Russian Space Agency has discussed the concept of the Russian manned space programs aimed at extending participation in the International Space Station to 2024, after which it plans to disengage modules from the Russian segment and use them to develop a national space station.

“The new space station would be configured to incorporate Russia’s multipurpose laboratory module, nodal module and scientific power module, leading to a promising Russian space station that meets the challenges of providing secure access to space,” the Russian Space Agency said in a statement.

The near-term plans are focused on studying the Moon using robotic spacecraft in lunar orbit and sending humans to its surface by 2030. The final decisions will be based on the reports to be made by the specialists of Russia’s rocket and space industry.

...Which again brings up the nature/location of this new non-ISS station, polar latitude orbits were suggested but that would be a major orbital shift,
while far Northerly orbits would seem less appealing to cooperation with e.g. China, India, Brasil (particularly if they cannot launch to it from their own territory),
so the chances seem good that a new/post-ISS station will NOT go with the polar latitude that was hyped, but will "conventionally" orbit closer to equator.

I'm also unsure of the manned access route, Russia's new manned vehicle would seem to be it's future manned access vector, but it's sized for 6 people,
and especially with a future smaller post-ISS station, that just seems over-kill, at least for "every" manned launch to reach the station...
I guess the space could be used for more supplies, allowing fewer launches with more long-duration cosmonaut stays, not sure if that's the plan...?
Soyuz seems like it would make sense to continue for that reason, although I've read there are launch corridor issues with it from Vostochny,
and Russia's current plan supposedly includes shutting down Kazakh-based launch site, although they could be holding out for better deal, etc...
Alternatively, perhaps Soyuz vehicle could be integrated to an Angara rocket, removing launch corridor issues from Vostochny site...?
(or just integrate the new KVTK upper stage with Soyuz rocket, replacing Fregat, possibly alleviating launch corridor from Vostochny...?)

From the Plesetsk cosmodrome was successfully launched "Soyuz-2.1a" spacecraft defense purposes

Central Military District Rescuers Arrived in Kazakhstan to Meet Crew of Soyuz TMA-14M


Search-and-rescue team of the Central Military District on Saturday arrived in Kazakhstan for a meeting of the Russian-American crew of “Soyuz TMA-14M”, who is completing its work in orbit, Central Military District reports.

The landing in the descent module will be made by Russian cosmonauts Elena Serova and Alexander Samokutyaev and US astronaut Barry Wilmore, who have spent in orbit about 170 days.

Their search and evacuation will be provided by operational teams on ATVs and specially equipped helicopters. The search and rescue of Soyuz landing will be attended by about 200 military men, 14 helicopters Mi-8, three aircraft An-12 and An-26, six amphibian vehicles, the release states.

Soyuz TMA-14M crew feeling well after returning from ISS — Russian deputy PM

The crew of Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyayev and Yelena Serova and NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore has landed in Kazakhstan’s steppe after spending about 170 days onboard the ISS



MOSCOW, March 12. /TASS/. The crew of the Soyuz TMA-14M spaceship who returned to the Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) early on Thursday are feeling well, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote in his Twitter microblog.

"The situation is all right. The crew members were taken out of the reentry module. They are feeling well. Serova is better than others in terms of blood pressure," he wrote.

The Soyuz TMA-14M reentry module with a crew of Russian cosmonauts Alexander Samokutyayev and Yelena Serova and NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore has landed in Kazakhstan’s steppe some 146 kilometers southeast of the city of Dzhezkazgan at designated time. The crew’s mission onboard the ISS lasted for about 170 days.

The Soyuz TMA-14M undocked from the ISS at 01:44 a.m. Moscow time (22:44 GMT). Its crew fulfilled a number of works with Russia’s Progress cargo spacecraft, the European cargo spaceship ATV-5, which after undocking from the ISS was drowned in the Pacific in February. Also, they carried out a wide scientific program.

Samokutyayev and Maxim Surayev, a member of the previous ISS expedition, made a spacewalk under the program of the station’s Russian segment.

Four spacewalks were performed under the American program. Wilmore took part in all of them.

Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, US astronaut Terry Virts and European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti are staying at the ISS. Virts has taken over as the ISS commander from Wilmore.

The next expedition — Roscosmos (Russian Federal Space Agency) cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Mikhail Kornienko and NASA astronaut Scott Kelly — will take off onboard a Soyuz TMA-16M spaceship from the Baikonur space center on March 27.

Cosmonaut Training Center to unveil training programs for flights to Moon and Mars
Russian Aviaton » Tuesday March 17, 2015 15:55 MSK

Russian Cosmonaut Training Center to unveil training programs for specialists involved in flights to Moon and Mars, TASS reports with reference to the head of the center Yuri Lonchakov.

“The concept for development of manned space flights has already been elaborated; it includes flights to Moon and Mars as well as creation of Moon bases. That is why the Cosmonaut Training Center is elaborating documents related to the concept for development of manned space flights; I think you’re going to hear about that soon,” Lonchakov said speaking of plans for introducing new training programs at the center.

Lonchakov added that the crew of 43/44 ISS mission saw Soyuz TMA-16M manned spacecraft for the first time on March 15th.

“Their exam lasted about five or six hours; after that the crew had three days off and departed to Baikonur on March 14th. The first test of Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft was scheduled for March 15th. A very tough schedule,” Lonchakov said after the astronauts started their pre-flight exams in the Star City.

The first crew comprises Gennady Padalka and Mikhail Kornienko (Russia) as well as Scott Kelly (USA). They are going to depart to ISS on March 27th 2015.

It is planned that Kornienko and Kelly will stay at the station for one year. Padalka will return to Earth after six months, but this flight will help him set a record in terms of total time spent in the orbit (around 900 days).

Express-AM7 successfully put in orbit

2015EKR troops completed operations for transfer booster "Breeze-M"

Russian manufacturer says ready to launch 19 satellites into space this year

But the launch of satellites is defined by the decisions of the customer on the launch of commercial spacecraft or on maintaining the orbital constellation designed for the military use if necessary

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Russia’s leading satellite manufacturing company, JSC Information Satellite Systems — Reshetnev Company, is ready to launch a total of 19 spacecraft into orbit, the company’s director general said on Monday.

"We are potentially ready to launch 19 spacecraft. They are either ready or are nearing the completion stage this year. But the launch of satellites is defined by the decisions of the customer on the launch of commercial spacecraft or on maintaining the orbital constellation designed for the military use in case of necessity," Nikolay Testoyedov said.

He explained that this is the current concept of the Defense Ministry and Russia’s space agency Roscosmos. "I think we will launch some 10 or 12 of them in line with the particular needs, the possibilities and plans of rocket engineers on manufacturing launch vehicles," the company’s head said.

The orbital constellation of Russia’s GLONASS space-based satellite navigation system will not be added by new satellites in the near future, he added. "We have already manufactured eight GLONASS-M satellites as for today. This year we will make the ninth one. But they are not being prepared for the launch as the orbital constellation does not need this," he said.

The Global Navigation Satellite System network, which was put into operation in 1993, is regarded as Russia’s answer to GPS (Global Positioning System) of the United States. The network provides real-time positioning and speed data for surface, sea and airborne objects.

The orbital cluster GLONASS consists of 28 satellites: 24 are operating in the routine mode, two are undergoing flight testing, another one is being checked by the chief designer and another one is in the reserve.

In 2015, there were plans to launch three GLONASS satellites and add the constellation with seven new spacecraft.

hmm quite numbers of good news. Especially that new bars spy sat. Russia may also launch some sort of relay Satellite so the spy sat can "dump" its data anytime.

Viktor wrote:Express-AM7 successfully put in orbit  

2015EKR troops completed operations for transfer booster "Breeze-M"

express is made in EU , by astrium company ,so seems contarcts are not affected with sanctions.

Rmf wrote:

Viktor wrote:Express-AM7 successfully put in orbit  

2015EKR troops completed operations for transfer booster "Breeze-M"

express is made in EU , by astrium company ,so contarcts are not affected with sanctions.

That sucks, as I wouldn't trust them worth a damn and would give my own people jobs/contracts over the European scum.

sepheronx wrote:

Rmf wrote:

Viktor wrote:Express-AM7 successfully put in orbit  

2015EKR troops completed operations for transfer booster "Breeze-M"

express is made in EU , by astrium company ,so contarcts are not affected with sanctions.

That sucks, as I wouldn't trust them worth a damn and would give my own people jobs/contracts over the European scum.

Russia has its own manufacturer of commsats - ISS Reshetnev.  The earlier Express-2000 based AM5 & AM6 were Reshetnev products but they differ from the Astrium AM4, AM4R, & AM7  which are based on Eurostar 3000 bus, and are larger that the Reshetnev builds ( 5775 vs 3600 kgs).   I'm not sure why the Astrium birds are heavier as they seem to carry less transponders than the Reshetnev ones - 24xC, 32xKu, 2xL versus 30xC, 40xKu, 12xKa, 2xL ??

I suspect that Reshetnev are constrained by their manufacturing capacity so Astrium are contracted to build satellites in order to accelerate delivery?

Russia's main problem is in supply of electronics for the transponders, as Reshetnev have traditionally sourced from Thales, so its clear that Russia needs to redouble its efforts to develop indigenous alternatives.  I wouldn't necessarily advocate abandoning Thales (or other western suppliers) but I'd use both domestic & foreign suppliers to prove a point and let the Eurotrash politicians know that sanctio would be both ineffective and counterproductive...

Russia Plans to Boost Space Tourism at Orbital Outpost

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150324/1019939623.html#ixzz3VQX9rDyZ

Cost of Russian Space Projects Grows by 27%

The current economic situation increased the prices of space projects by 27 percent on average, a Roscosmos representative said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian space projects have risen in price on average by 27 percent due to the current economic situation, Yuri Koptev, a representative of the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos said Tuesday.

"All this [economic situation] has led to a 27-percent price jump on average for every space project," Koptev said at a press-conference.

The ministry of economic development had expected a lower level of inflation, Koptev said.

According to Koptev, many issues considered from the perspective of 2014 are now looking different, "as we are experiencing significant change in the price of money."

Russia is currently experiencing an economic downturn. Falling oil prices, as well as the sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West are the reasons for the slowdown. The ruble has lost about half its value against the dollar since summer 2014.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150324/1019937446.html#ixzz3VQXHNNqd

The project of the Federal Space Program for 2016-2025 years will cut by 10%

Draft Federal Space Program (FCP) for 2016-2025 years will undergo sequestration by 10%. On Tuesday the head of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Russian Space Agency Yuri Koptev, reports Tass.

"The project, which is being prepared for 2016-2025 years, now looks completely different. First of all, due to the fact that we were in a significant change in the price of money that there were laid. The same is now going through all programs, "- said the Copts.

Koptev also said that the scientific and technical council proposes to increase the carrying capacity of Roscosmos heavy rocket "Angara", to enable it to bring to a low orbit payload of 35-37 tonnes.

According to Koptev, "there are a number of projects for the Ministry of Defence that the existing launch vehicles can not display" (quoted by Interfax).

Earlier Tuesday, the head of the Center im.Hrunicheva Andrew Kalinowski said that such support can be created in 2021-2023 years.

At the end of November last year, the Federal Space Agency asked for the PCF more than 2.4 trillion rubles. This amount is almost three times the budget of the space program, which operated from 2006 to 2015.

Most of the funds - 1.7 trillion rubles. Roscosmos had planned to spend on research and development activities. The budget for this purpose was to 1.483 trillion rubles. However, in the autumn of the newspaper "Kommersant" wrote that the Russian Space Agency will be difficult to get the full amount for the PCF.