[FPSPACE] Russian Moon Voyage proposal....thank you

[Peter Pesavento]

A lot of give and take, and expressed opinions...

Thanks....

We now know, according to the data on the Website, that:

a) two rocket launching is proposed;  Soyuz for Soyuz craft; Zenit for the propulsion module;
b) Soyuz is launched first, with propulsion module later;
c) docking in Earth orbit of propulsion module with Soyuz craft, nose-first with manned component;
d) propulsion module is jettisoned during trans-lunar coast;  
e) Soyuz craft loops around the moon....

It might be able to be pulled off with perhaps a minimum number of test flights in Earth orbit to test out propulsion module, and some elements of the Soyuz; lots of simulator time.....

However...

David Harland sent me an interesting data graph presentation from earlier this year that visited this scenario....there definitely will have to be modifications to the Soyuz craft to have it "lunar worthy"...including for life-support (example used was the need to have toilet facilities that would handle three people on the length of journey...)

How much time/money spent for such modifications?  I guess two Westerners paying 100 million each might obviate some of that concern....