Summer 1996
By Dennis Newkirk
© COPYRIGHT 1996 by CSPACE PRESS INC. All rights reserved
Contents
- US-Russian Projects
- ESA Projects
- Japanese Projects
- Mir Operations
- NASA Operations
- Future Mir Operations
- International Mir Missions
- Proton
- Soyuz
- Tsyclon
- Energia-M vs Angara
- Start
- Rokot
- Shtil
- Kosmos
- Engines
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION DEVELOPMENTS
US-Russian Projects
The International Space Station project continues officially on
schedule. Fabrication and test of hardware continues around the world, but
there are reports that delays are coming unless changes are made soon,
especially on the Russian side where funding problems are threatening the
schedule for the first ISS crew launch. Early in 1996 these concerns were
aired at the highest levels of contact. In July, the seventh meeting of the
Gore-Chernomyrdin commission (also known as the Intergovernmental
Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation) got underway to
discuss ISS funding problems, and open issues and new business.
The agenda included talks on trade, finance, taxes and investment,
intellectual property, energy research, nuclear materials, biological
weapons reductions, joint crime fighting, internet infrastructure, joint
research of Lake Baikal, and joint space programs. In the sphere of space
programs there was progress in planning the alpha-magnetic
spectrometer for antimatter research in space, a joint project of the
United States, Russia, China, Germany, Holland and Switzerland. A new
assembly sequence for the International Space Station was initialed for
further development and publication in the fall of 1996. Talks were also
held about joint missions planned for studies the sun and Pluto. Another
result of meeting was a final version of the agreement on commercial
launch of western satellites which is to be approved by the Russian
government.
Funding problems of the Russian Service Module were discussed but
no results were announced. Russian press reports claim that the payments
made to Russia for the cooperative flights of the Shuttle and Mir and the
International Space Station are only covering 5 to 8% of their true cost.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdine has been unable to remedy
the situation. The Khrunichev factory is facing the worst problem and is
nearly out of time to keep to the existing schedule for Service Module
development. The Russian government did guarantee a loan to Khrunichev
covering short term costs, but not enough to pay subcontractors.
According to NASA, September is the deadline for the project to get back
under control and that would be by running 3 shifts, after that the launch
has to be delayed which also delays the first crew launch.
NASA Administrator Dan Goldin also participated and held talks with
his counterpart, Yuri Koptev, and presented flags returned from space to
the Gore and Chernomyrdin. On July 15, there was a joint conference call
scheduled for Gore and Chernomyrdin to talk to the Mir-21 crew but Gore
declined the opportunity and Goldin and Koptev stood in for them to make
the call. During a joint call to Mir, Koptev asked about the condition of Mir,
and the cosmonauts said that it was in great shape with a few minor
problems. They also said that the Priroda module activation was going
according to plan. The session was closely followed by Russian and
American businessmen who use the commission meetings to iron out
problems in international business dealings. The next meeting of the
commission will be held in the United States in December.
One of the key factors in establishing Russian-US cooperative
Shuttle-Mir flights was the US insistence that a deal between Russia and
India for cryogenic rocket engine technology be cancelled. It was
suggested by the Russians that if a corresponding sale was found the deal
would be redrawn excluding sale of the technology in question. The result
was a $400 Million US project of flights to Mir. Now, India has made
significant progress in its program to develop indigenous technology to
replace that denied by the US State Department under the MTCR (Missile
Technology Control Regime). The Indian Space Research Organization
reports that it has completed design of a cryogenic engine for the
Geostationary Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The Hydrogen-LOX engine has 7500
kg. Thrust (461 Isp, 740 sec. duration and restartable) and will enable
launch of 2500 kg. satellites. Contracts for he construction of the engine
have been signed while design is underway for larger engines with 12,000
and 16,000 kg. thrust. The engines will replace engines bought from Russia
(without the manufacturing technology) in 3 to 4 years. The first Russian
engine will be delivered around the end of the year, and 3 more will follow
at 6 month intervals.
ESA Projects
The ESA Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) project entered the final
phase before full scale development expected in September 1996 with
Aerospatiale is the prime contractor. The Crew and cargo Transport
Vehicle (CTV) project using the ATV as a basis is running slightly behind
the ATV. NPO Molniya and TsAGI are participating in the development of
the CTV capsule by providing flight results from the BOR series of flights
in the 1980's to compare to European theoretical results. A prototype
capsule is expected to be launched in 1999 as a supplementary payload on
a Photon satellite. Operation flights will be made after 2000 to the ISS
with the ATV and CTV. The CTV is expected to replace the western
partners reliance on the Soyuz TM as an emergency transport.
Japanese Projects
In Japan, a two and a half month long Critical Design Review for the
JEM module was said to be successfully completed in February 1996.
Hundreds of issues were resolved, for example an incompatibility of the
JEM manipulator and the Space Station RMS. Some of the remaining issues
included EVA tests and planning, structural loading of JEM payloads and
payload envelopes on the shuttle. Launch of JEM is planned for 2000.
SHUTTLE-MIR
Mir Operations
The last Mir module, Priroda, was launched on April 23, to complete
the Mir complex and carrying NASA equipment for Shannon Lucid's mission.
NASA requested the module be docked as soon as possible since the module
was late and missed the first part of Lucid's mission. The Russians
complied and shortened the approach from 9 to 3 days, docking Priroda on
April 26. A total of 600 Kg. of equipment from Russia, NASA, Britian and
Germany are included in the module designed mainly for Earth observation,
biological and space exposure research.
The Russian crew of Yuri Onufriyenko and Yuri Usachev continues to
host NASA astronaut Shannon Lucid. On March 15, the cosmonauts
performed an EVA to install a second Strela crane to the Mir base block to
allow solar array transfers from the Docking module to Kvant. One notable
event was the commercial filmed for Pepsi, as the cosmonauts unfurled a
collapsible Pepsi can, as part of a commercial agreement with Pepsi to
help it promote its products. The nylon and aluminum expandable can was
Photo: PepsiCo Inc.
built by International Space Enterprises, San Diego. It was delivered by
the Progress flight in May and the can will be returned aboard a Soyuz. The
crew also filmed inside the Mir base block.
Another EVA on May 21 installed the MCSA (Mir Cooperative Solar
Array) on the Kvant module. The MCSA was delivered by STS-74 in late
1995. The MCSA is testing future space station solar array elements and
provides more power to Mir. On May 25 the cosmonauts went EVA again to
unfurl the MCSA which was equipped with a hand crank type deployment
mechanism instead of electric drive units on some other Mir arrays.,
Another EVA on May 31 was to done to install Moms-2P multispectral
stereoscopic camera onto Priroda. They also installed a EVA hand rail onto
Priroda. An EVA on June 13 completed another phase of the Pepsi
commercial, and the cosmonauts added a additional section of truss to the
bottom of the Rapana truss on Kvant. The enhancement for Rapana will
allow better measurements of the space environment and test a design
planned for use on the International Space Station.
NASA Operations
US astronaut Shannon Lucid set a new US record for duration of
spaceflight on Mir in July. John Blaha is scheduled to be launched on STS-
79 to replace Shannon Lucid on Mir. The launch date for STS-79 was
initially threatened with delay by engine troubles on the Shuttle Carrier
Aircraft carrying Atlantis back from its landing at Edwards AFB. This
would be only the first of problems encountered trying to put Atlantis
back into orbit. Soon after rolling the STS-79 stack to the launch pad it
had to be rolled back to the VAB to avoid the passing hurricane Bertha. At
the same time the SRB's from Columbia's STS-78 launch in June revealed
some hot gas leakage into the "J" insulation flaps. Just after rolling the
stack back to the pad it was decided to replace the STS-79 SRB's with
those being prepared for STS-80 using an old adhesive deemed safer than a
new type used on the previous flight. The launch was delayed more than 5
weeks giving Lucid the chance to break the record duration in space for a
female as well as the US record. The experiment program to be performed
by John Blaha will be begun by Lucid during her extended mission. Lucid
continues to report that the mission is going well, with no significant
problems.
Future Mir Operations
Progress M-32 was scheduled to resupply the current Mir crew but
its launch on July 22 was delayed initially due to the loss of 2 Soyuz-U
boosters carrying photo-reconnaissance satellites. The investigation
discovered a problem with changes in payload shroud construction
unrelated to the type used on Soyuz or Progress payloads clearing the
Progress for launch. On July 25 launch was attempted but was scrubbed in
the last seconds due to a propellant system problem which could be fixed
quickly. Launch was initially scheduled for 24 hours later but soon was
delayed until Aug. 1 to change the booster. Unexpectedly the date again
shifted, this time back a day to July 29. Its cargo included: 334 kg.
scientific equipment, 290 kg. food, 300 kg. water, 46 kg. oxygen, 80 kg.
personal supplies, and propellants, totaling 2400 kg.
The Mir-22 crew's flight was also delayed in June by 40 days, to
August 14, due to delays in funding and construction of the booster.,The
Mir-22 mission is planned to last about 200 days. It also became
necessary to lower the orbit of the station in early July to allow the used
of a Soyuz-U booster with 275 kg. less payload capability than the
preferred Soyuz-U2. The Soyuz-U uses a less expensive fuel and will save
the Russians money. It was even reported that the cosmonauts were to
loose 6 kg. weight to lessen constraints on payload capacity. The effect of
the delay has also purposefully delayed future planned flights. Russia
wants to do this to delay construction of new spacecraft and boosters to
save costs. International partners have little choice but to go along, the
Mir-22 and Cassiopeia project has been delayed, and the German flight
planned for December is now expected no earlier than January 1997. After
the problems launching Progress M-32 the Mir-22 crews launch was again
delayed to Aug. 19 due to the extra processing needed for the Progress
launch.
The joint German, Russian, American Inspector sub-satellite project
is progressing to launch in August 1997. Inspector will be launched on
Progress-M and deploy to fly around the complex by remote control to be
retrieved by a later shuttle flight. Russian press reports claim that Mir
may continue to be operated until 2002, but this would require occupation
due to the unpredictability of breakdowns.
International Mir Missions
NASA officials went to Ukraine in March to start preparations of the
biological experiment program to be carried out on the flight of a
Ukrainian astronaut on the shuttle in October 1997. In March an agreement
was made to launch a Japanese experiment payload to Mir on a Progress
late in 1996. The experiment was to be performed for 2.5 months.
LAUNCH SYSTEMS
Proton
The Proton launch system suffered a setback in February when the Block-D
fourth stage malfunctioned while launching a Russian Raduga
communications satellite. Quick investigations revealed the likely cause
was a fault in the manufacture of the stage and future launches were
relatively quickly cleared to proceed. Khrunichev officials were quick to
distance them selves from the problem noting that the problem was not
really in their rocket but in the upper stage made by RKK Energia and had
been procured and managed under a Ministry of Defense order.
On April 9 the Astra-1F satellite successfully launched by a Proton
dispelling any fear of booster problems. The State Commission for Proton
launches was supervised by none other than the Commander of the Russian
Space-Military Forces, Colonel General Vladimir Ivanov. It was the first
launch marketed by the joint ILS firm comprised of the Khrunichev Space
Research Center, RKK Energia, and Lockheed-Martin. The launch cost was
$60 Million and 19 more flights have been contracted by ILS. The Proton's
Tempo-1 launch was delayed from June to December, at customer request
according to Khrunichev. Khrunichev has spent $40 Million in upgrades to
the launch site including a new communications system, new power
generators and a new hotel. The launch quota agreement amended several
months ago was finally submitted to the Russian government for official
approval by the RSA in May.
ILS got more business in March when Asiasat cancelled a Long March
contract in favor of a Proton launch in 1997. This followed failures of
Long March including one which killed several people in February. Great
Wall representatives said its busy schedule and low Russian prices were
the real reasons Asiasat abandoned the Long March, and that the decision
was made before the latest accident.,
Soyuz
A Soyuz-U launch failed on May 14 to launch a photo-reconnaissance
satellite planned to carry out an order for photos by the American firm
Aerial Images in a project called 'Spin-2'. The booster shroud failed about
a minute into the flight and signals were lost from the payload after 6
minutes. The problem was immediately obvious and news reports the same
day identified the problem. The Baykonur launch was insured for $2.7
Million by Sovinformsputnik which will compensate Aerial Images in turn
when the funds were made available.A second Soyuz-U launch failed at
Plesetsk on June 21. The payload was another photo-reconnaissance
satellite and the nature of the failure was identical. Both failed flights
used the same type of payload shroud which had undergone a recent
manufacturing change blamed for the failures.
A proposal of the RSA to carryout commercial launches for
Aerospatiale and Arianespace using Soyuz boosters has been approved.
TsSKB-Progress and the RSA will negotiate the establishment of a joint
stock company with the French partners although no technology is to be
exchanged.
The French Minister for Post, Telecommunications, and Space signed
the French-Russian agreement in June to form the Starsem company to
market the Soyuz. The company will be owned 50-50 between the 2
countries, Aerospatiale will own 35%, Arianespace 15%, TsSKB-Progress
25% and the RSA 25%. The first launch is hoped for 1997, and 2 more in
1998, building to a steady rate of 4-5 launches a year. Aerospatiale may
make modifications to the Soyuz if needed. One of the main reasons the
French joined the joint venture was the fear that a US company might beat
them to it after the successful example of the ILS venture. The expected
market is primarily 'big LEO' communication satellite systems launch and
refurbishing which is not economically attractive on the Ariane 5. Cost of
launches is expected to be about 175 Million Francs. Launches may take
place from Baykonur or Plesetsk.
DASA was also included in some planning but opted out of the
venture, but the option for other European partners to join at later date
was put into the agreement. The agreement also can also be expanded to
include future versions of the Soyuz like the Soyuz-2 (Rus) and manned
uses of the boosters. For now it is planned to launch up to eight 500 kg.
class satellites at a time on either Soyuz and Molniya boosters using a
new upper stage or bus called Ikar to deliver multiple satellites into
proper orbits. Ikar will be developed jointly by Russia and France.
Tsyclon
Rockwell's Space Systems Division announced in July that it will
market the Tsyclon boosters produced by NPO Yuzhonye. They also will
provide payload integration services. Shortly afterward it was announced
that Boeing had bought Rockwell's Space division which means Boeing has
a hand in marketing both the Tsyclon and Zenit boosters (marketed by Sea
Launch which includes Boeing) both produced by Ukraine.
Energia-M vs Angara
Energia-M seems to be the project that will not die. Reports now say
that a new competition is being held by the RSA to decide between support
of Angara or Energia-M. RKK Energia claims that existing Energia
infrastructure would give the Energia-M an advantage, but the enormous
cost of maintaining that infrastructure is also a large hindrance. The
military still plans only on the Angara and the RSA has taken no role in
Angara development favoring Proton-M instead which won an earlier
competition with Energia-M, so Energia's effort to find a role for the
Energia-M seems to be doomed since the major players have already made
their choices.
Start
The Komplex Scientific Technical center signed an agreement with
an Austrailian company to make Start launches from the Woomera launch
center. They must first find customers who require launch from Australia
and hope to woo mobile communications and environmental monitoring
payloads for a launch as soon as late 1998. In related news, the first Start
launch from the Svobodnyy Cosmodrome is scheduled for the third quarter
of 1996.
Rokot
Brazilian Space Research Agency officials visited several space
industry sites around Moscow in March and held talks with RSA head Yuri
Koptev. Press reports also linked the Brazilians with Khrunichev where
rumors said a deal was being made to launch Rokot boosters, but nothing
was officially announced. Khrunichev's Rokot joint venture with Daimler-
Benz Aerospace ran into a problem in May as Khrunichev ran out of funding
to complete construction of the 3 stage version based on an RS-18 (SS-
19) ICBM. Germany has offered to reduce Russia's debt to Germany in
return for financing of the project. 60 of the ICBM's are thought to be
usable as boosters and in June one was tested successfully.
Shtil
In October, the first Russian Navy research satellite will be
launched by a Shtil booster on a ballistic missile submarine in the Barents
sea. The Kompas satellite is to conduct geophysical and electromagnetic
research which could aid in predicting earthquakes.
Kosmos
The Polet association has signed a contract for launch of 26 small
communications satellites for Final Analysis Co. Four Kosmos boosters
will be used in a swap of launch service for market rights to sell the
service in Russia (similar to the deal struck for Iridium launches with
Khrunichev). The satellites will be used for data services and will follow
1 existing and 1 planned satellites launched on Kosmos flights as
secondary payloads.
Engines
In other launch industry news, on Cosmonautics Day Boris Yeltsin
celebrated the RD-180 winning the potential billion dollar Lockheed-
Martin Atlas contract by visiting NPO Energomash in Khimki. The Russians
will get an additional windfall from the project since the RD-180 will be
reused in the Angara rocket family. The RD-180 program is headed by
Feliks Chelkis (Chief Designer). Production will start in July 1996 with
testing starting in November. In addition to Energomash executives, 15
aerospace industry executives forming the cooperative Kompomash
corporation attended the event looking for government aid. The
industrialists asked for a official policy on protectionist measures for
domestic and international sales, extra funding for research and
development, attention to timely and complete payment to industry, and
guarantees of loans and international business deals. Yeltsin reportedly
promised full settlement of debts to the defense industry at the meeting.
He also announced that he was directing Yuri Koptev and Oleg Soskovets to
draft an edict ending taxes and export duties for the space industry and
promised 2 Trillion Roubles of aid outside of the federal budget to the
industry. In return, Kompomash corporation leaders announced their
support of Yeltsin's presidential campaign noting that it was not time to
change leaders and change could be dangerous.,
Energomash is continuing development of other rocket engines
including the RD-704 tri-propellant engine targeted for use on single
stage to orbit boosters yet to be developed. Other engines being developed
are the RD-169, RD-185 and RD-190 for the Riksha light launcher. It is
estimated that the RD-180 will be in production for 20 years and at least
100 engines are earmarked for use in the USA.
Sources: FBIS, Novosti Kosmonavtiki, BBC Monitoring, wire services, Press
Releases, OMRI Daily Digest, personal correspondance. An expanded and
referenced version of Cosmonautics news including space center news,
space industry, military space forces and related news is available from
the Russian Aerospace Guide. For samples and back issues visit the
Russian Aerospace Guide web site at http://home.attbi.com/~rusaerog/
Cosmonautics News is reprinted here with permission from CSPACE
PRESS INC., P.O. Box 9331, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49509-0331