Interplanetary plans of Russia

Alexander Ilyin , editor of the Cosmonautics News magazine, told the TRV-NAUK about Russia's plans to launch scientific missions to the Moon, Mars and other planets.

On October 15, 2013, the fourth symposium on the research of the solar system has opened at the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Iki RAS). Russian, European and American scientists talked about the results and about the projects of their space agencies. In domestic plans, four main directions can be traced: the lunar program, cooperation with the European Space Agency (hereinafter - ECA) under the EXOMARS project, large cosmic telescopes and small devices.

The presence of a large number of scientific spacecraft in the federal space program (FKP) cannot but rejoice, but the main question remains: who will turn the “paper” projects into “iron”? Where will experts come from in the industry who can simultaneously work on a huge number of various tasks? Time will tell - whether beautiful dreams will turn into real (and successful!) Scientific missions.

Lunar program

Once again, the deadlines for the creation of Russian lunar probes are being reviewed-now the finalized program for researching the moon is being coordinated in the Russian Cosmos. The deadlines for the implementation of the Luna-Glob Planting mission (aka Luna-25; last year, the Luna-Glob-1 was called, and several years ago it was the landing apparatus of the Russian-Indian mission Luna-Resource) did not change-it starts no earlier than 2016. But the dates of the launches of the next two lunar devices have significantly moved to the right.

At the end of October 2013, the council of the chief designers of NGO named after S.A. Lavochkina approved the updated version of the Luna-Glob Lunar Project project-the materials of the sketch project were transferred for examination in the Central Research Institute. The new option involves minimizing the application of technical solutions that do not have flight qualifications.

The “Luna-Glob Planting” will become an experimental apparatus, the main task of which is to develop an accurate landing in a given area of ​​the southern polar region of the Moon. Scientists hope to install about 20 kg of scientific devices on it. In addition to purely technological tasks, it is planned to study the regolithic at the place of landing (by IR, gamma and neutron spectroscopy) and the TV filming of the terrain.

The start of the next lunar probe-“Moon-resource orbital” (“Luna-26”; last year-“Luna-Glob-2”, several years ago-the orbital apparatus of the Luna-Glob single mission)-was transferred for two years and should take place in 2018. The device will be much heavier than its predecessor: the mass of its scientific equipment will exceed 150 kg.

The “Moon-resource orbital” will study the composition of the surface of the moon with remote methods, clarify the boundaries of areas with water-containing rocks and, as part of the experiment of the Lord (lunar orbital radio detector), explores cosmic rays of ultra-high energies from the space of the spacecraft (KA) using the moon as a target.

The third probe-the “Luna Luna Luna” (“Luna-27”; last year-“Luna-resource”, several years ago-the landing apparatus of the Luna-Glob single mission)-will go to the moon only in 2019, also with a late for two years.

It is likely that the Luna-Resource station will be equipped with a drill installation, which is supposed to be created with the participation of European scientists. The fact is that to preserve the volatile fractions of the lunar substance, special installations for cryogenic drilling are needed, and with proper revision, European drill
Installation from the EXOMARS project can be used on the moon.

In the 2020s, scientists plan to deliver samples of the polar regolith (“Luna-28” to Earth and send a large Russian lunar rover (“Luna-29” to our heavenly neighbor).

According to the director of the IKI RAS Lev Zeleny, the project under the working name Polar Sample Return is now, unfortunately, is only in the preliminary discussion and is not yet included in the FKP project until 2025.

Research of Mars and other planets

Unlike lunar plans, the terms of the “Martian” program, in which Russia is already participating on a par with European partners, has not yet been reviewed. The first start under the Exomars project is still scheduled for 2016.

The Proton missile with an accelerated unit (RB) "Breeze-M" should send an orbital apparatus and a demonstration landing module to Mars. The orbital KA TGO (Trace Gas Orbiter) is designed to study small gas impurities in the atmosphere and distribute water ice in the soil of Mars.

The start of the second EXOMARS project apparatus may take place in 2018. The Proton missile with the Breeze-M RB will send an automatic interplanetary station (AMS) with a heavy (300 kg) by a European rover in the Red Planet. At the same time, both migratory and landing modules will be created in NGOs. S.A. Lavochkina.
Recall that on the account of the developers of this enterprise-as well as the USSR and Russia as a whole-only one “conditionally successful” soft landing on Mars-“Mars-3” in 1971. The tasks of the European Marso-Road are geological research and the search for traces of life in the subsurrent layer of Mars near the place of landing.

The EXOMARS project is not limited to the Russian Martian program. Scientists leave no hope of getting soil from phobos: the repetition of the Fobos Gront experiment under the designation “boomerang” is scheduled for 2022 (11 years after the first attempt).

Moreover, in 2024, the delivery of soil from Mars is planned. It was decided to abandon the brave projects of the Grontocellon with electric tank engines of low traction-the developers again returned to the two-way scheme proposed back in the mid-1970s. It is planned to use two proton missiles or two other heavy carriers.

Russia does not refuse to implement other projects of automatic interplanetary stations. In October in NGO to them. S.A. Lavochkina was defending the sketch project "Intergeliosond". The enterprise specialists made a proposal to launch two devices with a similar set of equipment to expand scientific programs and increase the reliability of the mission. Currently, the FKP is planned to create only one “near -Sunny” probe.

The Intergeliosond project provides for the study of the internal heliosphere and sun from close distances (60- 70 solar radiuses, or about 40-50 million km) and from non-ecliptic provisions on heliocentric orbits. A series of gravitational maneuvers at the Earth and Venus will allow the apparatus to get out of the ecliptic plane and approach our star. On the probe, it is supposed to use an electrical engine installation that receives power from solar panels.

Probably, the launch of Integelioson-da will take place after 2020. According to Lev Zeleny, it is possible that the Russian apparatus will work together with the European Solar Orbiter mission, the start of which is scheduled for 2017.

The study of asteroids is the task of another project, not included at the moment in the FKP, is an ANAPA light probe. Young scientists from NGOs. S.A. Lavochkina proposes to send him to an asteroid 2011 UK10, followed by a flight to the apofis or to a potentially dangerous asteroid 2013 TV135.

The main features of the project are as follows: this is a small one weighing about 400 kg, designed for a passing launch and equipped with a marching electroreactive motor installation (DU) for acceleration from the orbit of excretion and flight to the target. The launch of a light AMS may take place in 2021 if young scientists and engineers manage to enlist the support of Roscosmos, get funding and successfully bring the project to Iron.

Also, at the fourth symposium on the research of the solar system, the Venus-D project was again announced. The mission will include orbital and landing devices. The latter is characterized as “medium-living”-it is designed for a 30-minute descent in the atmosphere and two hours of work on the surface.

Probably, the plan of the mission to Venus will undergo changes more than once -the time of its implementation is scheduled far over 2020. Airostatic probes and subspoles from the project disappeared: perhaps they moved to a separate project Venus-Glob, the start of which is unlikely to take place earlier than 2030.

Surprisingly, a 25-year break in interplanetary research does not prevent Russia from dreaming of distant planets. In the framework of the joint from the EC of the Laplas -P project, experts are going to study the Jupiter system and even put the descent device on the surface of one of its large gapyeda satellites. It is planned to solve the problem of delivery of the probe to the planet-giant using a series of gravitational maneuvers and using an electric missile engine (ERD).

It should be noted that in the sightseeing report read on October 15 in Iki RAS, there were no projects presented last year at the third symposium on research by the solar system and the seventh International Aerospace Congress, the Polar Ecleptic Patrol, Mars-Net and Mercury-PM, as well as the proposals of TsNIIMASH (the delivery of samples of the cometary nucleus, sending the zone Jupiter’s atmosphere for studying a large red spot, “Tour” in the system of Saturn for studying titanium and enzlad, flights to the Uranus system, as well as in the Neptune system with planting on its satellite Titon, study of the objects of the Kuiper belt).

More telescopes of good and different

But not uniform probes ... The work continues to create new Russian space telescopes. Unfortunately, the timing of their launch is also shifted: the X-ray Astrophysical Observatory "Spectr-RG", apparently, will be poisoned into space only in 2015. The device must be displayed to the L2 L2 L2 point of the Sun-Earth system. There is a probability of changing the carrier: from the Zenit rocket (pH), the observatory, perhaps, will “cross” to “Proton”.

On board the Spectra-RG, two X-ray telescope will be installed-the Russian Art-XC, created in the All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics in Sarov, and Erosita, developed by German scientists of the Max Planck Society Institute. The basis of the observatory is the “Navigator” platform for the development of NGO named after S.A. Lavochkina. According to the general director of the NGO Viktor Khartov, this time the breakdown of the deadlines occurred through the fault of the German side: "The partners officially notified us with a letter that there were difficulties, and the supply of a telescope is shifted for more than a year."

“Spectrum-RG” should become the second spacecraft in the “Spectra” series. The first is the spectr-r radio telescope, launched on July 18, 2011, successfully works in orbit as part of the Radio Astron project. The third “spectrum”-the ultraviolet observatory “Spectrum-UF”-starts two years after the “spectrum-RG”, that is, not earlier than 2017. The device, also created on the basis of the Navigator platform, will be equipped with a T-170M telescope (mirror diameter-1.7 m) of Russian production.

Another telescope, which Russia is going to send into space until 2020, is the Gamma-400 gamma nozzle. Ka, along with the service base module, "Navigator" is developing NGOs. S. A. Lavochkina. To date, the work is at the stage of the technical project.

The fourth observatory of the “Spectrum” series-“Spectrum” (“Millima-Tron”)-probably starts at the beginning of the next decade. The device will be equipped with a large cryogenic telescope for observation in a millimeter, submilimeter and long -range infrared ranges.

Small scientific satellites

At the symposium in Iki RAS, the fourth main direction of the domestic scientific cosmonautics - small devices was also noted. In 2015, in the near -Earth orbit, in order to study processes in the internal magnetosphere of the Earth and in the Auroral region, the deployment of a group of four resonance satellites on the basis of the Karat Platform produced NGO named after S.A. Lavochkina. The group in full force should begin work in 2016.

In 2014, the VNIIEM Corporation named after MSU. A.G. Josifyan based on the Kanopus platform, the scientific companion of Mikhailo Lomonosov. It is intended for the study of space rays of extremely high energies and astrophysical gamma-ray gamma.

Another university apparatus -Baumanets -2, created with the participation of NGO engineering -will go into space in 2014. In addition, in 2014-2015, VNIIEM intends to deploy the Ionozond space complex of five minis -tutorials weighing 400 kg -four of the Ionosphere and one “probe”.

The launches of small (weighing ~ 250 kg) spacecraft for fundamental space research (MKA-FCI) will continue to be continued. S.A. Lavochkina.

Unfortunately, the MKA-FKI program is reduced: instead of four or five of the new KA, no more than one or two will be created.

Small scientific companions, probes and observatories are not exhausted by Russian plans. Until 2020, several KA for research in space biology and technological experiments-“Bion-M” and “Photon-M” will be brought into orbit, will go into space of the electeratus “electro-L” and “Meteor-M”, as well as numerous remote sensing devices in various ranges. Work on the Russian segment of the ISS will continue.

Yes, Russia's plans look very worthy, even compared to the proposals of the American space agency NASA, however, the unofficial information received from the space industry employees forces the “ceremonial” launches are very skeptical.

Apparently, until 2020, you can only count on the launch of one “Martian” apparatus-the first part of the Exomars project, two telescopes on the “Navigator”-“Spectr-RG” and “Spectrum-UF” platform (although both the first and second starts with delay) and one or two devices of the MKA-FCI series. The programs "Bion-M" and "Photon-M" will be implemented, university satellites and the new Electro-LA "are launched.

In conclusion, it is worth emphasizing that if there are no significant changes in the industry, then the start of lunar programs until 2020, as well as sending a European rover to Mars in 2018 - are extremely unlikely! I would like to believe that this pessimistic forecast will be erroneous, and the launches of interplanetary missions and near -ground scientific apparatus will be held on time. Time will show.

About the author. Since 2012, it has been in The Mars Society (“Martian Society”). Organizer of the missileatomatic festival of Rocketfest. He worked as part of the first Russian team (MDRS Crew 129 - Team Russia) on the Mars Desert Research Station (Martian desert research station) in the Utah desert. He took part in the work of "Selelenium" - the only domestic team that represented Russia in the international competition Google Lunar X Prize.