Monday, September 3, 2007

Russia Plans Extended Space Exploration & Increase in Obital Group

Via ITAR-TASS (Russia) -

MOSCOW, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - Russia is to have 102 spacecraft in orbit by the beginning of 2008, Federal Space Agency Director Anatoly Perminov told a news conference on Friday.

He said 95 craft are in orbits at present.

“By the end of this year we shall launch six spacecraft of the GLONASS system, as well as several satellites in the interests of the Defense Ministry. Thus, there will be 102-103 spacecraft in the orbital group by the end of the year” Perminov said.

He stressed that only 25 percent of launched spacecraft had improved performance a few years ago, while the figure is 60 percent at present.

As for prospects of the multi-purpose aerospace system (MAKS), Perminov said it was implemented under the program Air Launch together with Indonesia and envisaged the use of an An-124 plane as a carrier of a booster rocket.

The rocket will be launched from a 10,000-kilometer height, allowing replacing the first stage.

Perminov said the project had “advantages and shortcomings”.

“Whether it will work or not depends on financincial support that that side is to provide,” he said.

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Via ITAR-TASS (Russia) -

MOSCOW, August 31 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Federal Space Agency plans creating a system of anti-asteroid protection after 2026, the agency’s director Anatoly Perminov told a news conference on Friday.

As for the Federal Space Agency’s plans Perminov said “we have prepared proposals of the space activity for the years to 2040”.

“They have all aspects, including flights of the Moon and Mars. Now it is necessary to formulate the financial and resource support,” he said.

The proposals envisage three stages.

The first, which is planned for the years to 2015, is completing the assembly of the Russian segment of the International Space Station, enhancing the effectiveness of the transportation system, and preparing a scientific-technological basis for further stages of the space program.

The making of means of delivery and a new-generation transportation system is a plan for the second stage.

Russia is going to extend the use of the International Space Station to 2020.

The third stage envisages preparing manned flights to the Moon and Mars by 2025.

The landing on the Moon is to be prepared by 2025, and the setting up of a base on the Moon in 2027-35, Perminov said.

The flight to Mars is planned after 2035.

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Recently, it has become more clear...that Russia feels a bit overlooked on the global stage and is breathing new life in some ideas that haven't been seen since the days of the Cold War.

That is just my 2 cents anyways...

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