Russian Space Center To Complete Third Orbital Module

[nacnud]

<center><big>Russian Space Center To Complete Third Orbital Module</big></center><br /><font color="yellow">Moscow (SPX) Jul 01, 2005<br /><br /><br />The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) has allocated money to the Khrunichev Space Center to complete the construction of a multipurpose research module (MRM) for the International Space Station (ISS), the center's head told RIA Novosti Thursday.<br /><br />Alexander Medvedev told RIA Novosti that the construction of the module was 70% complete. It is scheduled to be launched in 2007. He also said that Roskosmos head, Anatoly Pirmenov, had approved this timeframe.<br /><br />Medvedev said his center would work with the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation, Russia's main rocket producer, to complete the project.<br /><br />The MRM, the third Russian module of the ISS, will be put into orbit by a Russian-made Proton launch vehicle.<br /><br /><font color="white">So is this the FGB2? I can’t think what else it might be if so it is good news <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /></font></font>

 

[holmec]

Sounds like good news anyway!<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Yep, most likely the FGB2. I have not heard anything about the Enterprise module for a while, which might be the next cab off the rank. But either way good news, which has been in the offing for some months now, since Putin annouced that there would be a budget increase for the completion of these modules.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

any idea where it will be placed and how this will effect the completion of the station with the shuttle back in service?<br /><br />Back in 2001 the FGB-2 could/would have been placed on the earth facing nadir port of Zvezda, but wouldn't this spot be used after construction has been restarted with shuttles flying again. <br /><br />Also the FGB2 wasn't really a labortory, its a copy of the Zarya control module. Launching it would greatly expand the living space and life support, but as far as I know it includes only a little opportunity for science to be performed.<br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[nacnud]

It'll need a hybrid docking port, and the only ones currently available are on Zvezda. Either the Zenith port or the nadir ports are hydrids.<br /><br />I think that Pirs is supposed to move to the zenith port and the Russian power module is to dock on top of that. That frees up the nadir port for the FCB2<br />

 

[space_dreamer]

I've really missed seeing new parts for the ISS, It may cost far to much but im till a fan!<br /><br />This means the ISS can have a 6+ man crew.<br /><br />About time! <br /><br /><br />Heres a pic on the FGB-2

 

[chebby]

shuttle_guy, how long can the space shuttle stay up there? Can one orbiter be left attached to ISS as a crew return vehicle?

 

[chebby]

Does it have to be powered while attached to ISS? Can't all systems be turned off?

 

[chebby]

Ouch. <br /><br />Thank's for answering my questions, shuttle_guy.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

is this module being launched on the shuttle, or is it going up on its own? and i don't think this would allow for the 6 man crew. The habitation module is what was supposed to allow that. And without the escape vehicle, they can't have more people than can fit in a soyuz...

 

[JonClarke]

There is room for two Soyuz plus Progress at all times on the ISS, it is just a matter of whether the partners are prepared to pay for them.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

I know, but my point is that there's probably not going to be that many soyuz... besides, evacuating to two soyuz seems tricky to me.

 

[JonClarke]

There will be that many Soyuz if NASA and ESA are prepared to pay for the extra one.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[bushuser]

Someone please dispel my ignorance. How much experience do the Russians have with the Proton launcher? Have there been many failures, or does it seem to be a good booster?

 

[krrr]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Someone please dispel my ignorance. How much experience do the Russians have with the Proton launcher? Have there been many failures, or does it seem to be a good booster?<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br /><br />There have been several hundreds of Proton launches. While the rocket was pretty unreliable in its first 10 years (~1967 to 1977), it now seems to be on par with any modern competitive system. Failures after 1977 were almost always due to upper stage malfunctions.

 

[najab]

><i>Someone please dispel my ignorance. How much experience do the Russians have with the Proton launcher?</i><p>All of it! <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> More seriously now, the Proton is a very reliable launcher. As was pointed out, it's the upper stages that have been less so.</p>

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Block D has been on unreliable in certain occasions, both on the Proton and on the Zenit 3SL. The new Breeze Upperstage is pretty reliable though. And off course new ISS segments wouldn't be launched on the 4 stage version with the Block D, but on a 3 stage version for low orbit.<br /><br />