Russian Space Program: News & Discussion #4

At the technical complex of the Baikonur cosmodrome, pre-flight preparation of the Progress M-UM transport cargo module (TGKM) with the Prichal nodal module (UM) of the Russian Segment of the International Space Station (ISS) is being completed.

Today, in hall 102 of the assembly and testing building of the site, 254 specialists from RSC Energia im. S.P. Korolev and specialized enterprises of Roskosmos conducted an author's inspection of the Progress M-UM TGCM, and then performed a set of technological operations to install the nose fairing (GO) as part of the assembly-protective block of the spacecraft-module spacecraft. After the installation and mechanical fixation of both fairing flaps, the electrical circuits of the pyrotechnic means of the HE release system were checked.

To launch the Progress M-UM TGKM, a standard head fairing with a diameter of 4.1 meters is used, which protects the module ship from aerodynamic and thermal loads when the launch vehicle passes through dense layers of the atmosphere at the initial launch site.

Hole wrote:Luna-25.

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. The Prichal nodal module scheduled for launch on November 24 will deliver supplies and food to the International Space Station (ISS), the federal space agency Roscosmos announced on Friday.

"The spacecraft-module is also due to deliver about 700 kg of various cargo to the ISS, including expendable equipment and consumables, water purification, medical control and sanitation means, maintenance and repair tools, as well as standard food rations for the 66th Main Expedition crew," the statement says.

The launch of a Progress M-UM spacecraft with the Prichal nodal module atop a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan is targeted for 16:06 Moscow time on November 24. The cargo spacecraft-module’s docking with the Russian Nauka multi-purpose laboratory module that parked with the orbital outpost on July 29 is scheduled for November 26.

Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin said that the new module would boost the capabilities of Russian spaceships, including the latest Oryol spacecraft, to dock with the ISS.

...Venus was traditionally considered the Russian planet....

PapaDragon wrote:

...Venus was traditionally considered the Russian planet....

Really?

By whom exactly?

George1 wrote:Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket to orbit Ekspress telecoms satellites on December 12

(The Ekspress-AMU3 and Ekspress-AMU7 telecoms satellites)

https://tass.com/science/1365439

flamming_python wrote:

GarryB wrote:When it comes to landing and operating on Venus no other country has anywhere near a comparable record on Venus to Russia.

And on the contrary Mars seems to be cursed when it comes to Russia

Venus it is (and it's a more interesting planet anyhow)

George1 wrote:Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket with new module launches to orbital outpost from Baikonur

The flight to the ISS will take two days

BAIKONUR COSMODROME /Kazakhstan/, November 24. /TASS/. A Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Progress M-UM space freighter and the Prichal nodal module blasted off from Launch Pad No. 31 (‘Vostok’) of the Baikonur spaceport to the International Space Station (ISS), a TASS correspondent reported from the scene.

In about nine minutes, the head unit comprising the space freighter and the module separated from the upper stage of the carrier rocket and embarked on its autonomous flight to the orbital outpost.

The flight to the ISS will take two days. The docking with the Russian Nauka multi-purpose laboratory module is expected at 18:25 Moscow time on November 26. Currently, the Progress MS-17 space freighter is parked at the Nauka module’s docking port. It is scheduled to undock from the orbital outpost at 14:18 Moscow time on November 25.

A total of 8.18 tonnes of payload will be delivered into orbit. Cosmonautics historian Alexander Zheleznyakov told TASS on Tuesday that the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket would deliver a record payload weight to the ISS.

Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin said that the new module would boost the capabilities of Russian spaceships, including the latest Oryol spacecraft, to dock with the ISS. Overall, the new module will have five docking ports. The first docking of a manned spacecraft with the Prichal module is scheduled for March 18.

The spacecraft-module is also due to deliver about 700 kg of various cargo to the ISS, including equipment and consumables, water purification, medical control including sanitary and hygienic supplies, maintenance and repair tools, as well as standard food rations for the 66th Main Expedition crew.

https://tass.com/science/1365693