Roscosmos. Space plans for two decades
While the head of the Federal Space Agency V. Popovkin is being treated at the Hospital. Burdenko, and various media of varying degrees of yellowing savor the “cherchez la femme” version of his injuries, Roscosmos presented to the Government of Russia a program for the development of domestic cosmonautics. The project "Strategy for the development of space activities up to 2030 of the year", starting with the title page, looks very bold. For example, the program of re-equipment of our army and the development of the military-industrial complex was worked out only until 2020. Apparently, the situation in the space industry allows for such long-term planning.
A few months ago it became known about the creation of a program for the development of domestic space science and technology. Since then, high-level government officials have occasionally mentioned it, but have not disclosed the details. All the statements of the “Strategy-2030” in essence looked somewhat standard: we must retain our leading position in space exploration by the 30 year, create new spacecraft and continue to explore other planets. Agree, not so much information. However, just the other day in the newspaper "Kommersant" appeared details of the document. Where this text of the plan came from is unknown to us. Therefore, prior to the official publication of “Strategy-2030”, the message of “Kommersant” should be considered solely as food for thought, but no more.
So, the basis of the program of development of astronautics consists of three main directions. They look like this (in order of priority):
- Development and modernization of existing space technology, including the provision of commercial services;
- Creating a new technology: manned, unmanned and designed to work on the surface of the planets. You should also work out the issue of creating a reusable space system;
- Studies on the theme of interplanetary manned flights, to the Moon and to Mars, as well as the creation of a new orbital station, which will replace the current ISS.
The main directions, as we see, look real, but not simple. In addition to the “strategic” plans, according to Kommersant, the Federal Space Agency also has smaller, but important intentions. So, before 2015, the Roskosmos, together with the Ministry of Defense, will complete the formation of the orbital group of spacecraft of the aerospace defense forces. By this time, the GLONASS system will be fully equipped with satellites (standard plus backup). Finally, the Vostochny cosmodrome will be put into operation by the 15 year, and the rocket engineers will “adapt” the existing launch vehicles to use with it. At first, only automatic space vehicles will be launched from Vostochny, and in the more distant future astronauts will also be able to fly. Unfortunately, by the deadline is unlikely to be able to establish a full-fledged production of the domestic element base. Therefore, spacecraft will continue to be created with the extensive use of foreign components.
The situation with the element base, according to the plans of Roscosmos, should be adjusted to the 2020 year. By this time, spacecraft electronics will become less dependent on foreign suppliers than they are now. Also in 20, the year finally will bring to mind the Angara carrier rocket, which will be operated from the Plesetsk and Vostochny cosmodromes. In addition, by the end of this decade, the Federal Space Agency intends to put into operation new manned vehicles designed to replace the good old Soyuz. It should be noted, these new devices are still what is called, and there is no project. However, system development should begin very soon. This decade should also be marked by the return of Russia to the exploration of the satellite of our planet. By 2020, Roscosmos intends to create several new moon rovers at once and conduct a series of explorations of the moon. In cooperation with foreign space agencies, spacecraft will be launched at this time to explore Venus and Jupiter, and a whole network of long-lived automated stations will be created on Mars. But sad things are connected with the twentieth year. According to current plans, this year it is planned to derail the International Space Station.
The study of the moon in the next 20 years should eventually lead to a flight and landing of a group of astronauts on it. A repetition of the Apollo 11 mission is scheduled for 2030 year. However, by this time one more direction is being added to the space exploration plans. In the twenties of this century, Roscosmos is going to seriously address the problem of space debris. The development of space technology and infrastructure by the end of the term considered in the “Strategy-2030” should ultimately lead to the fact that the needs of the domestic economy, defense, communications, etc. will be “closed” by domestic spacecraft on 95%, and not on 40%, as in the past 2011 year. Growth also expects production capacity of enterprises associated with the space industry. From last year’s 46% to 2030, the employment of these organizations should increase to eighty. Finally, Roskosmos plans to increase Russia's share in the global space services market by a factor of twenty. Now this figure is only 0,5%, and in the thirtieth it should reach 10%.
Considering the truly Napoleonic plans of Roscosmos, you constantly ask yourself a question: if this organization really wants to do all this, then with what funds will the “Strategy-2030” be carried out? According to Kommersant, the Federal Space Agency has its own considerations on this. Since one of the main activities of our space industry will be commercial services, non-budget structures will be involved in financing programs. Thus, according to calculations, the share of non-state financing of the national astronautics will constantly grow and only improve the financial condition of the industry. In turn, the implementation of such a complex program, in which a huge number of organizations and enterprises will be employed, will require appropriate monitoring and coordination of actions. For these purposes, in the very near future, after the adoption of the “Strategy-2030”, a special body may be created, similar to the Military-Industrial Commission under the Government of the country.
It is too early to say how successfully the “Strategy for the development of space activities up to 2030 of the year” will be implemented. Yes, and officially it has not yet been published. So it remains to wait for details, and then wait for the dates specified in the existing version, when you can personally verify the success of the implementation of the plans. As for the exact statements, it is already right now with a clear conscience to say that news About "Strategy-2030" will cause the most stormy debate. And the debaters will not wait for 2015, 2020 or 2030 a year.
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