Russian Science Module Arrives at Baikonur for Tests
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Roscosmos PR) — Today, August 19, 2020, the Nauka module, which is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station in the spring of 2021, arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It took less than 10 days to transport the module to the cosmodrome; it took 14 cars to transport it and the necessary equipment.
At Baikonur, specialists from subsidiaries of the State Corporation Roscosmos – Rocket and Space Corporation Energia (the lead developer of the module) and the Center. Khrunichev (manufacturer) – will carry out factory control and measurement tests of the new module. They are the final stage in the manufacture of the product.
Tests should confirm the quality of the installation and assembly work carried out, the operability of the systems and the quality of the product as a whole. Usually this stage takes place at the manufacturing plant, but this time, according to the terms of the state contract and in accordance with the terms of reference, it will take place at the cosmodrome.
In the near future, Russian specialists at Baikonur will have to carry out a large amount of work related to electrical tests of the product (a total of 754 checks in accordance with the instructions), fitting of fasteners for large-sized objects, etc.
3 responses to “Russian Science Module Arrives at Baikonur for Tests”
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Looks like SpaceX finally lit a fire under these guys, too. Good
Today, August 19, 2020, the Nauka module, which is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station in the spring of 2021, arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
It’s really going to happen? After all these decades?
I’m still a skeptic. But, in light of that recent Russian announcement of a scheme to carry two space tourists at a time up to ISS on Soyuz missions, I’m a bit less so, now. If that tourist business is to work, the Russian segment needs more life support and hab space.
But the real question is, will Russia put up Nauka “on spec” before their notional tourist business really gets going, or are they going to first see if the tourist thing works out at least once or twice before putting Nauka up? In the latter case, Nauka could, and likely would, stay on the ground if the tourist thing fizzles.
The Russian manned space program is pretty much running on fumes these days so I’m not sure which way the Russians might go on this.