Thursday, December 24, 2015

Russia could overtake the United States in the creation of missiles returned stages – Business Portal

24 December 2015 g of.

The Federal Space Program till 2025 there are projects and research on the return steps, the head of the Russian Space Agency, Igor Komarov, commenting on the successful return of the first stage of the American rocket Falcon 9. According to experts, in Russia such development may take many years, but it’s not the only way to compete in the market for commercial launches. The head of the state corporation “Roscosmos” Igor Komarov made a presentation on Thursday at a meeting of the Space Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where called Priorities of the Federal Space Program (FCP) until 2025.

«Ensuring flight test” Angara “with PTK NP (manned transport ship the new generation) software launches to the ISS from the East in 2023, a study of the Sun under the” Resonance “, development and maintenance of orbital grouping, fundamental space research, including the exploration of the Moon with the launch of five satellites, maintaining the operation of the ISS until 2024, saving space in the world market of space launches, “- he listed.

«The main focus of the report was on the scientific component, – told the newspaper LOOK leading researcher of the Institute of Space Research Maxim Litvak, who attended the meeting of the Space Council. – The lunar program is a priority. From the standpoint of the immediate tasks of manned space flight – completion promising rocket “Angara” and promising the ship instead of “Union.” This is the main objective on the horizon given the fact that the funding is not unlimited. Now there is a complex interaction with other departments to approve the budget of the federal program. With some agencies have agreed with some being discussed. ”

«We also have a»

With regard to save space on the market launches mentioned by Komarov, something happened recently successful landing of the first stage of the American rocket Falcon 9 Russian positions put at risk.

«It inspires respect – said Komarov return the first stage of the launch of the American company SpaceX, RIA” Novosti “. – We hope that now do the US industrialists, in the future will reduce the cost of spacecraft. ”

According to him, Russian developers are currently working on a similar project: “We also have the FCP projects and studies that focus on steps and returns, and the possibility of using the shuttle,” – he said.

The old story

The fact that Russia is working on a new family of launch vehicles with reusable unit, reported in early 2012. An employee of the State Research and Production Space Center (Khrunichev) them. Khrunichev Igor Birkin told then that the system includes a refundable one-time rocket unit and the second stage.

«In the early stages of work of the Centre to them. Khrunichev will shape the necessary scientific and technical solutions, including the composition of the demonstrators MRCA for ground and flight testing, – said Birkin. – System demonstrator, designed for complex working out on the ground and in flight all the major key elements of the return rocket block is proposed to create a reserve on the basis of disposable rocket boosters family “Angara” and touched on the reusable booster “Baikal”, – he said.

«This is a very old story – told the newspaper VIEW about reusable booster” Baikal “scientific director of the Moscow club of space Ivan Moiseyev. – Make a layout that were taken on exhibitions, but the real development – and required extensive development – in that direction yet. In fact, the scheme requires a landing airfield infrastructure. If you do this, then in the long run it is possible. ”

«In this program, the PCF (the return of stages) was not until the last moment, so that it requires ten years of development. Now there is a paper layout there, and from that to a flying design – a very big way. Samu “Angara” we did 20 years. This new design, the experience of which we have no “, – concluded the expert.

not an end in itself

Moiseyev said that the missile should be made for specific tasks and to be cost-effective: “The SpaceX had two good ideas that fit into the economy . The first – simple engine, which we consider outdated, but they are cheap to design and manufacture. And the second – to make returns the first step. The rocket was originally sharpened by economic efficiency. And if you go down this road, it will inevitably have to do exactly the same: to take the new design of the rocket and see how to do it the most cost-effective. Will be effective to return the first stage (if the right approach, it can, as shown) – then you need to do to return. A “Baikal” and therefore slows down, which is not demonstrated economic efficiency “, – he explained.

«The return of the first stage – not an end in itself. It should be concluded in less space, to be competitive in the world market – that is the task. And what technical means it is achieved, it does not matter. SpaceX is well demonstrated: very quickly created a simple rocket to the simple components, “- said the scientist.

Let’s remind, on the idea of ​​the founders of the Falcon 9 rocket exhaust element of support should include re engines and vertically down to a special sea platform the size of a football field, opened the landing gear.

The first experimental planting of the first stage at the floating platform held in January this year and was unsuccessful. Planting proved tough: the booster exploded and broke into several pieces. According to Elon Musk, the stage was not able to smoothly land on a floating barge due to insufficient amount of hydraulic fluid in the system of aerodynamic stabilization.

In February, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket landed softly but the ocean: because of adverse weather conditions floating platform was not directed to the site of impact.

In April, a rocket landed on the platform, but, as reported by the owner of the company SpaceX Elon Musk, “too rough to survive.”

In June, the start-up and all was unsuccessful: the rocket, which was to put into orbit a space truck with a load of Dragon to the ISS, crashed, or as reported by NASA, just “collapsed.”

The return of the first stage of the rocket in these experiments were as an additional problem, that is, in all cases, except for the June accident, it is still in orbit payload.

As the technology becomes more and more waste, experts predict a decline in the value of the company SpaceX launches by 20-30%. Meanwhile, the launch of the Falcon 9 is already cheaper than the competition from 56 to 77 million dollars, while the launch of the Russian “Proton” or a European Ariane 5 rocket costs about 100 million and 200 million respectively.

In December, Russia successfully tested a carrier rocket heavy class “Angara-A5″, which will eventually replace the “Proton”, but so far it is still run more. In addition, for the commercial launch “Angara” will not soon be used, the first time it would take the state program.

Roman Kretsul

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