Vladimir Solovyov Speaks on Future Development of Russian Human Spaceflight
Translated from Russian by Google Translate
MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at the XLVI Academic Readings in Cosmonautics (“Royal Readings – 2022”), Vladimir Solovyov, General Designer for Manned Space Systems and Complexes, spoke about the plans for the development of the Russian manned space program.”
On new tasks for the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS)
“It is necessary to provide maximum opportunities for observation of the entire territory of the Russian Federation, including high-latitude regions of the Earth, and to begin research with human participation in regions of the Earth with the least protection from cosmic radiation, which is necessary for a more complete understanding of the problems that future manned interplanetary expeditions may encounter.”
About the stages of ROSS deployment
“At the first stage, a “butterfly” is being formed – the Scientific and Energy Module, which has already been created in metal, the Base, Gateway and Nodal modules, with the help of which from 2026-2028 it is possible to start flights and master subpolar orbits. At the second stage, the Target Production and Target Modules and an arsenal of various external platforms appear as part of the ROSS. I would like to operate the station in this full-fledged composition with crews working on a rotational basis.”
On the creation of a spacecraft servicing complex at ROSS
“It is proposed to create a complex at ROSS, where the base platform is a manned station-womb, which allows using tugs to operate a large number of spacecraft – high-speed communications, universal platforms, inspectors, Earth remote sensing.”
On the importance of ROSS for monitoring the Arctic region and the Northern Sea Route
“Navigational tracking and understanding of the development of the ice situation, the main oil-bearing areas and pollution will give a tremendous economic effect. This requires fairly modern equipment, but this is the future that is very important for our country.”
About transport support of ROSS
“At the first stage, it is planned to launch the Soyuz and Progress spacecraft from the Baikonur cosmodrome and, possibly, Vostochny. In the future, promising transport ships appear to replace the Soyuz and Progress. In particular, on the basis of the Orel lunar spacecraft, there is a lighter, more modern and necessarily reusable transport vehicle that could be launched by the Soyuz-5 launch vehicle.”
On plans to deliver the spacecraft to the ISS in two hours
“We are currently working on a one-orbit scheme for rendezvous between the spacecraft and the ISS, and from 2023 we plan to implement it on the Progress cargo spacecraft. Docking with the station will be two hours after launch.”
About the program of flight testing of a new manned spacecraft
“At the end of 2023, a certain prototype will fly on the Angara-A5 rocket, provided that the ground infrastructure at the Vostochny cosmodrome is ready. In 2024, the Angara-A5M will carry out an unmanned flight to the ISS, and in 2025, the Angara-A5M will carry out a manned flight to the ISS.”
7 responses to “Vladimir Solovyov Speaks on Future Development of Russian Human Spaceflight”
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So it looks like they are staying with the ISS.
That would be their cheapest alternative, and word is that their budgets are tight.
And those budgets will get tighter yet if any move is made on Ukrainian territory.
Making a virtue of necessity it would seem. Not that I believe ROSS is ever likely to be real. Or Orel. And the dates given in this presentation strike me as pure swamp gas.
The only possible configuration I see for the ROSS is a mid size habitat/lab module, a docking hub/airlock module and a service module if Roscosmos retain their current funding level and the Angara A5 is operational.
Orel will fly, but will be years behind schedule.
The Russian space industry is imploding from funding shortfalls, looming personnel retirements and incompetent management, IMO.
I still think ROSS and Orel have contracted a fatal case of Constellation Disease in which their schedules perpetually slide rightward by at least one year per year. But even though you believe otherwise, your summary of Russia’s situation anent spacefaring is still pretty bleak. Heckuva note that you’re the optimist of we two even though your comment is nearly as dark as mine.
Since I don’t expect Roscosmos to keep their current funding level. Our outlook on the Russian space industry is not that dissimilar.