To save the space industry, Ukraine is ready to sell Soviet space technologies.
A person, no matter what nationality he belongs to, is always proud of his country. He is proud of his ancestors, proud of the victories of his ancestors, proud of the artists and the works created by him, he is proud of even the unique natural "masterpieces" that exist only in his country. A person looks at things created by previous generations and understands that this citizen of his country was the first in this eternal race for a better life. Is it bad or good? Probably good. Because a person feels connected to the great stories humanity and the history of his country. Man is not only ready to continue the great deeds of his ancestors, but also to protect what has already been created.
The same is true of states, cities, towns, factories, factories ... Similarly, there are those who are proud that they are "the founders of democracy." Others live in the "cradle of the revolution." Third - in the "financial center of the world." And so on. There are many examples.
20 century gave humanity a lot of things that are significant precisely on a global scale. Just listing these achievements would have taken me a few pages in small print. And surely something significant would have been missed. But there are things that no one can miss. In particular, space exploration. It was 20 century that gave us a dream come true. More precisely, the beginning of the execution of a dream. We went beyond the limits of our own planet and for the first time thought about those who might be living somewhere there ... We saw firsthand how small our Earth is ... And how big the cosmos is.
Among the pioneers of space exploration was our country. True, it was then called differently: the USSR. But ours ... In exactly the same way, today, citizens of all the former republics of the Soviet Union can quite deservedly, in my opinion. Today we live in different countries, but together we were pioneers of space exploration. How together we defeated fascism.
It seemed to us that it was impossible to deprive the people of this proud title. However, the history of modern Ukraine shows the opposite. The greatest minds that were and, I hope, exist in Ukraine, in the field of development, design and creation of spacecraft, are almost not in demand today. The agrarian power, as it is now spoken at the government level in Ukraine, cannot afford to allow itself to build an independent space industry.
Today, the pain of breaking our (Ukraine and Russia) relations in the space industry has somewhat subsided. Not because we have become "callous" and incapable of experiencing. No, it's just that in the two years that have passed since the break, Russia has managed to replace much of what was produced in Ukraine with its own developments or imports from other countries.
Let me remind readers of some joint Russian-Ukrainian projects. Those who brought or could bring huge profits for both countries.
"Sea Launch". Project 1995 of the year. Really international project. The founders of which are the American "BOEING", the Russian "ENERGY", the "YuZHNOE" design bureau, the "YUZHMASH" plant and the Norwegian shipbuilding company "AKER SOLUTION" (modern name). Beautiful project. Launch on the Ukrainian carrier from the Odyssey site (a former Japanese oil production platform near Christmas Island) of middle-class spacecraft. After the Americans left the project, Energia received up to 95% of shares (2010 year).
But after the "Maidan" Ukraine, the Ukrainian authorities considered the project "Moskalsky" and ceased cooperation. 22 August 2014 of the Sea Launch was stopped, and on December 24 Dmitry Rogozin declared that it was impossible to cooperate with Yuzhmash ... But during the existence of the project 36 launches were made, 32 of which are successful! Ukrainian politicians (not designers and engineers of the space industry) declare the continued production of Zenit-3SL rockets, but everyone understands that a rocket consisting of Russian components on 70% will not fly into the sky ...
Ground Launch. "By-product" "Sea Launch". Specifics of "MS" were used to develop the possibilities of using "Zenith" already for launches from Baikonur. Missiles have become completely Russian-Ukrainian. Zenit-3SLB and Zenit-3SLBF. Over the five years of the project’s existence (from 2008 to 2013), 5 launches have been made. All successful.
True, the Ukrainians have already been dreaming for 3 ... The Ukrainian dream is “Air start”. Fortunately, there is still a theoretical opportunity to make this dream a reality. I mean the famous An-225 Mriya. Only here the situation in industry and in general in the economy of Ukraine today is such that the dream will remain a mriya ...
And there was also "Rokot". Three-stage lightweight rockets. The Khrunichev center produced rockets, but the control systems for the boosters were supplied from Kharkov (Elektropribor plant, now Khartron). The rocket is capable of putting into orbit up to 2 tons of cargo. Used mostly for the needs of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. Over the years 15 produced 23 start. Freelance two. Probably not sure exactly the most budget rocket ($ 20 million with all costs).
Dnipro. "Civilian version" of the famous Soviet ballistic missile RS-20 (according to the NATO SS-18 Satan classification). One of the most powerful missiles in the world. It is in place of this "Satan" came "Bulava". It was produced at "Yuzhmash" ... For 16 years 22 launch from Baikonur was made. Non-standard one.
Well, how can you not remember the famous (or famous, given that I remember the legend about the founding of Kiev) “Lybed”. This is the first Ukrainian geostationary satellite, produced in Canada and safely rotting in the city of Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory. Initially, in 2009, a good project. For 254 $ million, Ukraine receives a satellite, which should be launched in 2011 year ... For this, the above mentioned Land Launch should be used. But ... "No money." "The power of the satellite must be increased ..." The start is postponed indefinitely (until complete destruction, I suppose) time. The cost of the satellite has grown not only for storage in the warehouse, but also in connection with the replacement of Ukrainian components with Russian ones on Zenit-3SLBF missiles.
But what is written above, already, alas, relates to history. And descendants will deal with history. We are in this matter "myopic". A large, as is known, is seen in the distance. And what about today? Do Ukraine and Ukrainian politicians do not understand that the loss of the space industry “dumps” the country to the level of a third-party power? And the powers?
I would like to quote from the speech of Yaroslav Yatskiv, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, at a roundtable in Yuzhnoye Design Bureau on May 26: “The potential of Ukraine is not yet high enough for us to master the Moon ourselves. We must integrate into the global space community with China, America or The European Space Agency. And what we can do better should be included in these international missions, we should be taken as an accomplice. "
I think most readers have already understood what the discussion will be about next. No more nothing less than how Ukraine’s participation in ... the exploration of the moon! Do not be surprised, but those words that you read above, just about that.
It is clear that today the potential of Ukraine in the space field is of little interest to anyone. Of course, from those countries that have this industry. Modern science is no longer moving by leaps and bounds. The score goes to the parsecs ... Yes, and we are moving at least in one direction, but still different “paths”. The “path” of Ukraine so far largely coincides with the Russian one, but ... We do not cooperate in the space field. Americans, as well as the French, do not need Ukrainian technology ...
But there are countries that for various reasons were not among the pioneers of the space industry. Do not have major achievements yet. And according to the potential they can afford it. There are several such countries. And the first on the list is China. It is the Chinese who are interested in Ukrainian technologies. More precisely, in the Soviet technologies that went to Ukraine during the collapse of the USSR.
Many readers have heard about the ambitious project of China on the exploration of the moon. The Chinese seriously intend to land on Earth’s satellite and not just explore, but explore the planet. I often mention Chinese hard work. And especially about dedication. If stated, they will. Not today, then tomorrow, not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. The blessing the economy allows to allocate huge funds for space.
In the media, there were reports that China wants to buy the technology of creating the "E block" of the Soviet descent module from Ukraine, where the landing of the Soviet cosmonaut on the moon was planned at the end of 60-x and the beginning of 70-s of the last century. At that time, there was a "space race" between the USSR and the USA. Both countries have developed and implemented many new technologies. Both countries tried to "wipe the nose" to each other. Accordingly, it was possible to both parties. Now in one, then in another confrontation.
In the matter of landing on the moon "nose wiped" to us. Let me remind you, in the USSR, a project of a lunar ship L-3 was being developed. The device should have been launched into space by a heavy H-1 rocket. Then, already in the orbit of the moon, one of the astronauts from the orbital module passed into the descent module. Thus, one member of the expedition was on the surface of the moon, and the second was waiting for him in orbit. Transitions from module to module were carried out by going into open space.
It is clear that many technical solutions for this ship were truly revolutionary. Much of what was created during the development of the project is used today in modern missiles. But after an unsuccessful test of the H-1 rocket in 1974, the project was abandoned. L-3 "put on the shelf." And today this particular project is of great interest to the Chinese ...
In order to warn the "crying" of some particularly patriotic readers about the discharge of Soviet technologies by the "potential" partner, "I would like to refer them to the launch video of Chinese manned spacecraft. Look carefully. Very instructive video.
Compare the Soviet "Union" and the Chinese "Shenzhou". Compare the spacesuits of the Soviet cosmonauts and Chinese Taekonauts. Find differences? No, they certainly are.
"Shenzhou" is not an exact copy of the "Union", but its continuation. The device is more spacious, comfortable, modern. But ... Soviet. And where did he come from the Chinese? Where do these taikonauts come from? Why is the Soviet spacesuit "Falcon" so "sitting" on them? And everything is simple. In 90-s, it was we who sold the Soviet space technology to the Chinese. We, Russia. And they not only sold them, but also prepared these same Taekonauts in our training centers. Sold for "pennies" that cost us billions.
I don’t know, honestly, it was the right decision or the wrong one. On the one hand, we sold unique technologies to those who needed them. And on the other? We sold for a pittance. Allowing thereby saving hundreds, or maybe thousands of times more money than was spent on the purchase, to the same China. We practically "made" a Chinese manned space program.
But back to Ukraine. Will the sale of block E of the module L-3 take place? Namely, this block is the main one in the future deal. Block E is something that Soviet science can be proud of. This unit serves both for landing on the moon and for the reverse launch to the orbital module. To exclude technical inaccuracies, I will quote a quote from Andrei Borisov’s article: “Block E reaches height of 1,72 meter, its diameter is 2,38 meter, weight is 525 kilograms. Asymmetric dimethyl hydrazine is used as fuel, oxidant is nitrogen tetraoxide. The rocket unit included there are two engines - the main 11Д411 (РД858) and the backup 11Д412 (РД859). The first is designed for two starts (when landing on the Moon and when starting from it), the second one - on one (in case of failure of the main engine during landing and for securing at start boarding Modules from the surface of the Moon). "Block E" has successfully passed ground tests, all three flight tests within L3 failed. By the year 1974 in the Ukrainian SSR was created about 20 "Block E". "
It seems to me that today the sale of technologies for Ukraine is the only way to save at least some place in the global space industry. A chance to keep the same "Yuzhmash". It is clear that it is already impossible to restore the status of the space power. The state of the country's economy is such that with each passing day the lag will only increase. And soon this lag will become noticeable already in science. The most “fresh” ideas will, if not “pass by,” Ukrainian scientists and designers, then “will remain behind the glass showcases” for sure.
Someone will go to the same China, someone will just leave by age, someone will leave for other reasons ... Ukrainian school of designers and scientists in this area will die. As it happens, unfortunately, with aircraft manufacturers, with shipbuilders ... If today there is still a ghostly hope for some kind of revival of cooperation, then tomorrow it will not be. It's a pity...
The same is true of states, cities, towns, factories, factories ... Similarly, there are those who are proud that they are "the founders of democracy." Others live in the "cradle of the revolution." Third - in the "financial center of the world." And so on. There are many examples.
20 century gave humanity a lot of things that are significant precisely on a global scale. Just listing these achievements would have taken me a few pages in small print. And surely something significant would have been missed. But there are things that no one can miss. In particular, space exploration. It was 20 century that gave us a dream come true. More precisely, the beginning of the execution of a dream. We went beyond the limits of our own planet and for the first time thought about those who might be living somewhere there ... We saw firsthand how small our Earth is ... And how big the cosmos is.
Among the pioneers of space exploration was our country. True, it was then called differently: the USSR. But ours ... In exactly the same way, today, citizens of all the former republics of the Soviet Union can quite deservedly, in my opinion. Today we live in different countries, but together we were pioneers of space exploration. How together we defeated fascism.
It seemed to us that it was impossible to deprive the people of this proud title. However, the history of modern Ukraine shows the opposite. The greatest minds that were and, I hope, exist in Ukraine, in the field of development, design and creation of spacecraft, are almost not in demand today. The agrarian power, as it is now spoken at the government level in Ukraine, cannot afford to allow itself to build an independent space industry.
Today, the pain of breaking our (Ukraine and Russia) relations in the space industry has somewhat subsided. Not because we have become "callous" and incapable of experiencing. No, it's just that in the two years that have passed since the break, Russia has managed to replace much of what was produced in Ukraine with its own developments or imports from other countries.
Let me remind readers of some joint Russian-Ukrainian projects. Those who brought or could bring huge profits for both countries.
"Sea Launch". Project 1995 of the year. Really international project. The founders of which are the American "BOEING", the Russian "ENERGY", the "YuZHNOE" design bureau, the "YUZHMASH" plant and the Norwegian shipbuilding company "AKER SOLUTION" (modern name). Beautiful project. Launch on the Ukrainian carrier from the Odyssey site (a former Japanese oil production platform near Christmas Island) of middle-class spacecraft. After the Americans left the project, Energia received up to 95% of shares (2010 year).
But after the "Maidan" Ukraine, the Ukrainian authorities considered the project "Moskalsky" and ceased cooperation. 22 August 2014 of the Sea Launch was stopped, and on December 24 Dmitry Rogozin declared that it was impossible to cooperate with Yuzhmash ... But during the existence of the project 36 launches were made, 32 of which are successful! Ukrainian politicians (not designers and engineers of the space industry) declare the continued production of Zenit-3SL rockets, but everyone understands that a rocket consisting of Russian components on 70% will not fly into the sky ...
Ground Launch. "By-product" "Sea Launch". Specifics of "MS" were used to develop the possibilities of using "Zenith" already for launches from Baikonur. Missiles have become completely Russian-Ukrainian. Zenit-3SLB and Zenit-3SLBF. Over the five years of the project’s existence (from 2008 to 2013), 5 launches have been made. All successful.
True, the Ukrainians have already been dreaming for 3 ... The Ukrainian dream is “Air start”. Fortunately, there is still a theoretical opportunity to make this dream a reality. I mean the famous An-225 Mriya. Only here the situation in industry and in general in the economy of Ukraine today is such that the dream will remain a mriya ...
And there was also "Rokot". Three-stage lightweight rockets. The Khrunichev center produced rockets, but the control systems for the boosters were supplied from Kharkov (Elektropribor plant, now Khartron). The rocket is capable of putting into orbit up to 2 tons of cargo. Used mostly for the needs of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. Over the years 15 produced 23 start. Freelance two. Probably not sure exactly the most budget rocket ($ 20 million with all costs).
Dnipro. "Civilian version" of the famous Soviet ballistic missile RS-20 (according to the NATO SS-18 Satan classification). One of the most powerful missiles in the world. It is in place of this "Satan" came "Bulava". It was produced at "Yuzhmash" ... For 16 years 22 launch from Baikonur was made. Non-standard one.
Well, how can you not remember the famous (or famous, given that I remember the legend about the founding of Kiev) “Lybed”. This is the first Ukrainian geostationary satellite, produced in Canada and safely rotting in the city of Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory. Initially, in 2009, a good project. For 254 $ million, Ukraine receives a satellite, which should be launched in 2011 year ... For this, the above mentioned Land Launch should be used. But ... "No money." "The power of the satellite must be increased ..." The start is postponed indefinitely (until complete destruction, I suppose) time. The cost of the satellite has grown not only for storage in the warehouse, but also in connection with the replacement of Ukrainian components with Russian ones on Zenit-3SLBF missiles.
But what is written above, already, alas, relates to history. And descendants will deal with history. We are in this matter "myopic". A large, as is known, is seen in the distance. And what about today? Do Ukraine and Ukrainian politicians do not understand that the loss of the space industry “dumps” the country to the level of a third-party power? And the powers?
I would like to quote from the speech of Yaroslav Yatskiv, academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, at a roundtable in Yuzhnoye Design Bureau on May 26: “The potential of Ukraine is not yet high enough for us to master the Moon ourselves. We must integrate into the global space community with China, America or The European Space Agency. And what we can do better should be included in these international missions, we should be taken as an accomplice. "
I think most readers have already understood what the discussion will be about next. No more nothing less than how Ukraine’s participation in ... the exploration of the moon! Do not be surprised, but those words that you read above, just about that.
It is clear that today the potential of Ukraine in the space field is of little interest to anyone. Of course, from those countries that have this industry. Modern science is no longer moving by leaps and bounds. The score goes to the parsecs ... Yes, and we are moving at least in one direction, but still different “paths”. The “path” of Ukraine so far largely coincides with the Russian one, but ... We do not cooperate in the space field. Americans, as well as the French, do not need Ukrainian technology ...
But there are countries that for various reasons were not among the pioneers of the space industry. Do not have major achievements yet. And according to the potential they can afford it. There are several such countries. And the first on the list is China. It is the Chinese who are interested in Ukrainian technologies. More precisely, in the Soviet technologies that went to Ukraine during the collapse of the USSR.
Many readers have heard about the ambitious project of China on the exploration of the moon. The Chinese seriously intend to land on Earth’s satellite and not just explore, but explore the planet. I often mention Chinese hard work. And especially about dedication. If stated, they will. Not today, then tomorrow, not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. The blessing the economy allows to allocate huge funds for space.
In the media, there were reports that China wants to buy the technology of creating the "E block" of the Soviet descent module from Ukraine, where the landing of the Soviet cosmonaut on the moon was planned at the end of 60-x and the beginning of 70-s of the last century. At that time, there was a "space race" between the USSR and the USA. Both countries have developed and implemented many new technologies. Both countries tried to "wipe the nose" to each other. Accordingly, it was possible to both parties. Now in one, then in another confrontation.
In the matter of landing on the moon "nose wiped" to us. Let me remind you, in the USSR, a project of a lunar ship L-3 was being developed. The device should have been launched into space by a heavy H-1 rocket. Then, already in the orbit of the moon, one of the astronauts from the orbital module passed into the descent module. Thus, one member of the expedition was on the surface of the moon, and the second was waiting for him in orbit. Transitions from module to module were carried out by going into open space.
It is clear that many technical solutions for this ship were truly revolutionary. Much of what was created during the development of the project is used today in modern missiles. But after an unsuccessful test of the H-1 rocket in 1974, the project was abandoned. L-3 "put on the shelf." And today this particular project is of great interest to the Chinese ...
In order to warn the "crying" of some particularly patriotic readers about the discharge of Soviet technologies by the "potential" partner, "I would like to refer them to the launch video of Chinese manned spacecraft. Look carefully. Very instructive video.
Compare the Soviet "Union" and the Chinese "Shenzhou". Compare the spacesuits of the Soviet cosmonauts and Chinese Taekonauts. Find differences? No, they certainly are.
"Shenzhou" is not an exact copy of the "Union", but its continuation. The device is more spacious, comfortable, modern. But ... Soviet. And where did he come from the Chinese? Where do these taikonauts come from? Why is the Soviet spacesuit "Falcon" so "sitting" on them? And everything is simple. In 90-s, it was we who sold the Soviet space technology to the Chinese. We, Russia. And they not only sold them, but also prepared these same Taekonauts in our training centers. Sold for "pennies" that cost us billions.
I don’t know, honestly, it was the right decision or the wrong one. On the one hand, we sold unique technologies to those who needed them. And on the other? We sold for a pittance. Allowing thereby saving hundreds, or maybe thousands of times more money than was spent on the purchase, to the same China. We practically "made" a Chinese manned space program.
But back to Ukraine. Will the sale of block E of the module L-3 take place? Namely, this block is the main one in the future deal. Block E is something that Soviet science can be proud of. This unit serves both for landing on the moon and for the reverse launch to the orbital module. To exclude technical inaccuracies, I will quote a quote from Andrei Borisov’s article: “Block E reaches height of 1,72 meter, its diameter is 2,38 meter, weight is 525 kilograms. Asymmetric dimethyl hydrazine is used as fuel, oxidant is nitrogen tetraoxide. The rocket unit included there are two engines - the main 11Д411 (РД858) and the backup 11Д412 (РД859). The first is designed for two starts (when landing on the Moon and when starting from it), the second one - on one (in case of failure of the main engine during landing and for securing at start boarding Modules from the surface of the Moon). "Block E" has successfully passed ground tests, all three flight tests within L3 failed. By the year 1974 in the Ukrainian SSR was created about 20 "Block E". "
It seems to me that today the sale of technologies for Ukraine is the only way to save at least some place in the global space industry. A chance to keep the same "Yuzhmash". It is clear that it is already impossible to restore the status of the space power. The state of the country's economy is such that with each passing day the lag will only increase. And soon this lag will become noticeable already in science. The most “fresh” ideas will, if not “pass by,” Ukrainian scientists and designers, then “will remain behind the glass showcases” for sure.
Someone will go to the same China, someone will just leave by age, someone will leave for other reasons ... Ukrainian school of designers and scientists in this area will die. As it happens, unfortunately, with aircraft manufacturers, with shipbuilders ... If today there is still a ghostly hope for some kind of revival of cooperation, then tomorrow it will not be. It's a pity...
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