Apr 8, 2009

Posted by in Mars, current, featured, history, moon

Russia to shoot for the moon—maybe this time?

After 50 years, a replacement for the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

After 50 years, a replacement for the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

When the Soviet N1 rocket failed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, that ended any hope of getting Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov to the moon. They’d hoped to beat the Americans in the race to the moon…but failed to get there ever. Even as a runner up.

Even now, for a price tag of $100 million, the Russians are offering a space tourist a trip around the moon. But there have been no takers.

And, as the United States begins a program to return to the moon, and even China is planning to put a Taikonaut (Chinese astronaut) on the moon…the Russians have been lagging. That may be about to change.

Russians plan new moon vehicle

Although the Soyuz, which the Russians still use, was planned as a vehicle to travel to the moon (but not land), Russia is planning a replacement—with a future moon landing in mind.

The spacecraft resembles the planned new American moonship, Orion, and has already been nicknamed “Orionski.”

The new spacecraft, currently referred to as the Prospective Piloted Transport System (PPTS), would be available in various configurations, depending on the kind of mission.

Configurations

The “basic” version would hold 6 Cosmonauts and would be capable of earth-orbital missions, including missions to the International Space Station.

A 4-person configuration would be capable of lunar missions. Yet another version would be used for unmanned missions, including use as a cargo vehicle.

Additional plans

There is also talk of a possible Russian lunar orbital station—an outpost for lunar travelers.

After half a century, a replacement

When the new vehicle comes into service, in 2018, it will replace the Soyuz which will have completed more than 50 years of service.

  • Volker

    German space journalist Gerhard Kowalski wrote an article on the new Russian space craft (published April 13, 2009). I took the liberty to translate it for the English speaking community:

    http://www.gerhardkowalski.com/?p=126

    The secret about the new Russian space transport system is out – due to a purposeful indiscretion during Easter weekend. Last Sunday, Russian news agency “Novosti” quoted a “high-ranking expert”: the successor to the legendary Soyuz spaceship will be reusable, but it will not have wings. It will adhere to the proven and reliable capsule design, will have an aerodynamic guidance system and will land vertically – without a parachute.

    The “New Generation Manned Spacecraft” (Pilotirujemy transportny korabl nowowo pokolenija – PTK NP), as it is officially called, is designed for six cosmonauts and up to 500 kilograms of extra cargo. Its main purpose is going to be the transport of people to the International Space station and later (in the time after the ISS) to a possible Russian Space Station. It would also be able to fly to the moon or even to Mars, but without landing there. Except for the thruster section, it will be reusable “up to ten times.” For landing, it will not use a parachute like Soyuz, but special thrusters, using “ecologically clean propellants.” A possible future Russian space station will be used mainly as a science laboratory, but also as a base to build spacecrafts bound for Moon and Mars.

    Until now, there was a lot of secrecy about the new space craft. It is going to be tested unmanned in 2015, using a new rocket. First manned flights are scheduled for 2018. Anatoli Perminow, head of the Russian space agency Roskosmos confirmed the general plan last Saturday, but didn’t reveal any details. “Energija’s” chief engineer Anatoli Lopota pointed out that the new craft hast to be “competitive” at an international market, which is why details have to be kept secret.

    However, Lopota revealed, that the project title is “Rus” and that the craft is going to be “stunningly similar” to the American Orion project. But “Rus” will be different from “Orion” for it has to adapt to the “specifics of Russian geography.”

    It has been confirmed, that a first draft is due in June 2010. Also confirmed is a first budget of 18 million Euros. According to “Energija’s” vice-chief engineer Valeri Rjumin, the budget falls about 30% short of the projects needs. Anonymous sources mention “private financing” willing to participate in financing.

    The landing system is going to be similar to that of America’s historic Moon Lander. The Russian chief engineer dismissed parachutes, because he wanted a system able to land a damaged space craft “always, everywhere and under all circumstancces.” However, German astronaut Thomas Reiter called the landing system “very risky.”

    Russia also attempts to gain independence from the former Soviet space port Baikonur, which is now located in Kazakhstan. The new space craft will be launched from a new space port called ‘Wostotschny” in the Russian Far East.

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