Oleg Ostapenko. Photo: Lime / Sergey Dubrovin
Successful Chinese lunar landing research vehicle “Chang’e-3″ gives reason to think about the development of Russian space exploration. In Russia, it is assumed that our space technology is still the most modern, but it judging by the success of the 1970s. current realities suggest an entirely different picture. In a recent interview with “Izvestiya” Victor Hart, CEO of the Lavochkin (the same NGO, where did the Soviet rovers), stated unequivocally: “We need to relearn how to sit on the moon, because the last time our apparatus land on the moon in 1976. Drawings of the flight there, the results are, but you need to re-do the design, equipment, everything must be done to re-software – to write again, ballistic calculations and computations – all over again. Landing on the moon, to some extent, even harder than on Mars ».
The document entitled “Basics State Policy of the Russian Federation in the field of space activities for the period up to 2030 and Beyond “approved by the President in April this year, the Moon is often referred to. If we proceed from him, Russia is going to develop the moon. Here is a quote from the document: “The task of developing a national system of launch vehicles are … 2030 – creation of space rocket booster with super-heavy carrying capacity of over 50 tons in order for launching space vehicles of the new generation in high-Earth orbit and to the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and other celestial bodies within the solar system, the development of reusable space tugs based on electric propulsion systems for long-term supply programs base on the Moon ».
long-term base on the moon it is direct competition with China’s space program whose purpose – to establish scientific lunar base after 2040. Does Russia have a chance to win this race? The investigation showed “Izvestia”, no lunar exploration program not as clear plans for space exploration.
According to one senior Roscosmos, the new head of the space agency Oleg Ostapenko told employees that “the policy framework in the field of space activities for the period up to 2030″ should be recycled.
«Izvestia” managed to get a transcript of one of the last meetings of the head of the Russian Space Agency – it was held on October 24 this year in office space agency.
– «The policy framework for space activities for the period till 2030″ I returned today as incompletely document with the recommendation to revise them, – said at that meeting Ostapenko. – Therefore, the basics will be processed. Do not adjust, and fully processed …
According to a participant of the meeting, the head of Roscosmos, present the greatest surprise is not the intention to revise the distant space policy priorities and audit of the projects that are already underway. In particular, the creation of an advanced missile system “Angara».
– I “Angara” takes a long time, since its inception as the chief of the cosmodrome, then commander – Ostapenko said at the meeting. – Personally, my belief that this missile for the East – is a dead-end rocket, it does not give us the opportunity to develop. We will then have to invest huge amounts of money again and build something else next … I believe that the “Angara” – a dead-end solution for the further development of our country in this area. Therefore it is necessary to prepare a convincing program to report to the President, as it was not difficult and unpleasant, as urged in the other. But wasting money and wait for something, we will not need to take a proactive stance.
«Angara” – is the main project of Russia in space at any time since the collapse of the USSR. For its implementation in 1994 spent more than 100 billion rubles. The first launch of “Angara” light class was scheduled for 2007, was postponed several times and now stands in the middle of plans for 2014.
– We were shocked by what has been said – the participant of the meeting with the head of Roscosmos October 24. – On the sidelines discussed mainly said to “Angara”. Everyone knows that the “Angara”, there is one very important flaw – it is too expensive.
cost of “Angara” its producer – Khrunichev Center – keeps a secret. Judging by the parameters of the largest order to date on the engines for the “Angara” (RD-191) concluded Khimki NGOs “Energomash” under the state defense order for 2013-2015, the price of this engine – about 250 million rubles for each. Set of engines for the first stage heavy “Angara” so worth 1.25 billion rubles – are exactly the rocket “Proton”, starts this year (in now placed orders for the coming years “Protons” purchased by the state at a price of 1.5 billion rubles ). With such a price on the cost of manufacturing boosters rockets reliably will exceed 2.5 billion rubles, at least another 1 billion rubles will provide booster, fairing and a set of launch services. As a result, cost of launching payloads using the “Angara” (if it launched today) surely have passed beyond the limits of $ 100 million
– Originally “Angara” was intended to reduce the cost of launch. Hence came the idea of ??the project applied in her universal rocket modules that can be applied to different classes of missiles, – the member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after Tsiolkovsky Andrew, son of John. – All at the same time understood that the universal solution in terms of efficiency target is not perfect – it is impossible to make a decision based on a single rocket and light and moderate and severe. A unified approach to the creation of “Angara” was a compromise aimed at reducing prices: price of development, production and testing of products. But there was a paradox: a rocket turned more “Proton”. Because taken in the process of creating a rocket technical solutions are not adequately tested in terms of cost. Made as a result of “Angara” engine RD-191 went expensive and not as effective as its predecessor constructive RD-180.
Oleg Ostapenko agreed to comment on “News” his speech at the meeting in the Federal Space Agency. Comparing the transcript of the meeting and the newspaper comment, it is clear that the public version of the head space agency’s position has softened, but his words did not refuse.
– is necessary to consider the context of what was said. Currently working on creating line missiles “Angara” – from mild to severe – continues. At first launch light missile from Plesetsk, we plan to next summer. And on the East launching pad for “Angara” will be built, as planned, there has already completed reconnaissance work commission to choose the place for building – said the head of Roscosmos. – But then we are faced with the question of creating a new class of super-heavy vehicle, including a manned mission to the Moon. And here to the “Angara” raises many questions. Whether to build on its basis rocket super-heavy?
– we have no definite answer yet, the issue now under discussion. Their proposals for super-heavy carrier now prepare RSC “Energia”, TsSKB “Progress”. “Angara” is also regarded as one of the options. We start from the fact that for the beginning of a promising booster superheavy class must display into low Earth orbit 70 – 75 t payload – continues Perminov. – In the future, need to display more weight, so we need to create complex, providing another rocket to be able to strengthen its parameters, using the same starting position.
The Center Khrunichev words Ostapenko prefer not to comment.
In an informal conversation senior source in the “Khrunichev» said.
– Space technology to be expensive because every detail of the three times have to redo. First “Proton” and serial costs at three different times, the first “Union” from the series “Union” – three and a half times – said a senior source “Izvestia” in “Khrunichev».
According to him, in the future the price of “Angara” will decline, and the more series, the lower the price.
– We plan to 2020 to reduce the price, “Angara” 1.8 times. And when the machine goes into a series, it will cost less than 2.5 times than today. Those engines RD-191, the production of which we establish in his enterprise “Proton-PM” will not cost 250 million rubles, as now, and 135 – 140 million rubles for a good series – said the source. – In its present form “Angara” costs almost twice as much “Proton”, and we are well aware that this machine does not have the market prospects. But what makes sense to compare a single, piece goods, literally collected manually and serial rocket?
global market is now living under the sign of lower prices for launching all waiting for the start of full-fledged launcher rocket Falcon Heavy from SpaceX, able to bring to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) to 19, 5 According to the head that SpaceX Elon Musk, the new rocket will launch flights in 2014. While previously announced price launch vehicle using Falcon Heavy will be about $ 78 million is about 25% below the price starts “Proton”, the most currently available media heavy class.
– Falcon family of launch is created based on a new model for missile production, making it competitive costs – says son of Jonah. – All previous missiles – Russian, American, Chinese – were made on the basis of the production model, which was founded by von Braun and Korolev in the 50s of the last century. In this model specialization manufacturers. It is possible to solve the problem as quickly as possible, with each doing his narrow slice. But the flip side of specialization – a unique production and the highest price. Musk 50 years later came to the problem in another way, refusing specialization. He said that he would do everything possible, and followed the path of maximum constriction cooperation. Therefore, it is cheaper than other missiles. And to compete with Mask under the old model of production is impossible.
Development Director space cluster “Skolkovo” Dmitry Payson finds Roscosmos intention to reconsider the development of rocketry positive point:
– He is not a ugroblyaetsya overlap and competition among firms missile. Because if we say that there’s “Angara” and anything else we do not need not to spread resources, it immediately raises the question of the fate of the Samara rocket school. Actually, after initially planned to build a missile East “Rus-M” missile with Samara. In a sense incipient change in priorities would not mean a reversal, and a step back, back to a time when Russia supported the competition among manufacturers of missile technology. Many in the same industry are convinced that competition is necessary.
Experts say that to succeed in the international market, Russia needs to restructure the work of the space industry.
– «Angara” should bring, though it is clear that the market destinies of this missile is not, – said the son of Jonah. – Throwing the project can not, because it simply demoralizing industry. Therefore rocket stands on the finish and use Plesetsk launch vehicles for military and dual purpose. Let it be worth around $ 130 million, will become its run three times a year. And we will guarantee starting sovereignty, the new rocket, and everything is fine. Build another launch pad for the “Angara” on the East do not need. It will be money thrown away, because the market it will not work anyway. Russia must rebuild the aerospace industry with the experience of mask. Because he has upgraded the production process as much as Henry Ford, who proposed pipeline. Not making his belt, we can not compete with him.
According to Oleg Ostapenko, Roscosmos will seek to develop new directions for the space industry in the near future. After the New Year at the industry adopted a decision on the further development planned to be submitted for discussion at the Academy of Sciences. After working through the scientific community theme Roscosmos starts cooking program documents for inclusion in the government.
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