[FPSPACE] New Vostochny Cosmodrome will have manned capability

[Peter Pesavento]

Announcment by Putin

 

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/17647/1066/

 

Russia announces no more space tourists, new launch facility, new heavy-lift
rocket

 


by William Atkins    


Tuesday, 15 April 2008 

President Vladimir Putin announced that the new Russian
Cosmodrome-Vostochny-will be completed by 2015 and that a new heavy-lift
Angara launch vehicle will be developed. The RSA, Russia's space agency,
announced that it will probably not carry space tourists to the ISS
beginning in 2010.

 

Vostochny Cosmodrome

Construction for the Vostochny space launch facility will begin late in 2008
or early in 2009. 

The new spaceport project was originally announced by Putin on November 21,
2007. Since then, Putin has decided to provide extra money for the project
so that the facility will have manned launch capabilities.

The new Russian space facility is expected to be fully operation by 2018,
and begin manned launches in 2020. It is expected to begin launching
unmanned missions in 2015.

The Vostochny Cosmodrome will be located in the far eastern section of
Russia, in the Amur region that borders China.

First Vice Premier Sergei Ivanov stated, "The decision is final.... On
November 6, the president inked a decree to set up a new cosmodrome that
will be located in the Amur region. Its name is Vostochny.... By 2018, we
will ensure the launch of manned programs.... In essence, it will be
necessary to build a new town." [Kommersant: "
<http://www.kommersant.com/p-11672/spaceport_Vostochny/> Rockets to Blast
Off from Vostochny Spaceport in 2018"]

Currently, Russia launches all of its manned space mission from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome, which it leases from Kazakhstan. The Soviet Union initially
built the Baikonur Cosmodrome, but with the collapse of the U.S.S.R., it has
now become the property of Kazakhstan, a former Soviet satellite.

The new Vosstochny Cosmodrome will eventually replace the Baikonur
Cosmodrome.

Putin stated, "We must ensure Russia's guaranteed access to space, that is a
capability to make all kind of space launches - satellites, manned
spacecraft and interplanetary probes - from our own territory" [FoxNews: "
<http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,350792,00.html> Putin: Russia Will
Spend More on Space Industries, But Not Space Tourism"]


Angara Booster Rocket

In April 2008, Putin also announced that a new booster rocket will be built:
Angara.

Thirteen years earlier, on August 26, 1995, the heavy-lift rocket was
announced for developed by the Russian government. 

Along with the new family of launch vehicles, the Russian leader also stated
in 2008 that money has been dedicated to modernize the country's entire
satellite fleet.

The  <http://www.russianspaceweb.com/angara.html> Angara space launch
vehicle is currently being developed at the Khrunichev State Space
Scientific Production Center (Moscow, Russia). Once operational, the Angara
will be primarily launched form the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a Russian space
facility located south of Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 500 miles (800
kilometers) north of Moscow. 

How is the progress coming along for the development of Angara? Information
on the fate of space tourists onboard Russian spacecraft also follows on the
next page.

 

On December 12, 2007, the first stage for the Angara rocket was successfully
tested with respect to its flight hydraulics and steering actuators under
near-flight ready conditions.

 

Currently, Russia purchases many of its Zenit launch vehicles from the
Ukraine, another former satellite of the U.S.S.R.

A series of Angara rockets will be designed and built. They will lift
payloads ranging in weight from 2,000 to 24,500 kilograms into low Earth
orbit. 

The fuel used for the launch vehicles will be liquid oxygen (LOX) and rocket
propellant-1 (RP-1), a type of kerosene similar to jet fuel. Its upper stage
can carry LOX/RP-1 or LOX and liquid hydrogen (LOH).

The first launch of an Angara rocket is expected to be in 2010 or 2011.


Space Tourists in Russia

RSA head Anatoly Perminov announced that Russia will likely stop selling
tourists rides to the International Space Station beginning in 2010. 

At that time, the number of crewmembers of the ISS will be increased from
three to six (possibly even nine crew members). With the added number, there
will not be enough room to ferry space tourists (or spaceflight
participants) on Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Perminov stated, "We will continue flying tourists to the international
space station in accordance with the existing programs, but we may have
problems with it starting from 2010 because of planned increase of the ISS'
crew." [FoxNews: " <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,350792,00.html>
Putin: Russia Will Spend More on Space Industries, But Not Space Tourism"]