Author Topic: Excalibur Almaz  (Read 204270 times)

Offline tonyq

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 520
  • Isle of Man
  • Liked: 67
  • Likes Given: 104
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #160 on: 04/27/2011 06:06 pm »
Today a visited the Excalibur Almaz hanger at Jurby, Isle of Man for a media event hosted by Col. Valery Tokarev.

I am not an engineering specialist - my main interest is in astronauts and cosmonauts, so sorry if I did not photograph all the things people wanted to see.

Because I was there as a representative of 'Spaceflight' magazine I must give them first viewing of most of my 70+ photos, but I am happy to post a few here as a preview.

I was very surprised that we were allowed inside the most complete module and to take any photographs that we wanted.

« Last Edit: 05/02/2011 07:36 pm by Ronsmytheiii »

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #161 on: 04/27/2011 09:32 pm »
Tony,

These are excellent photographs! There are some interesting details in both stations. Theses were to have been unmanned, but it will take some study to determine the function of some of the instruments in the "near complete" station.

The bare-bones station is something I never thought I'd see! Quite exciting!!!

Thank you for sharing these!

David L. Rickman

Offline Skylab

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 477
  • Liked: 71
  • Likes Given: 55

Offline Ronsmytheiii

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23394
  • Liked: 1879
  • Likes Given: 1023
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #163 on: 05/02/2011 07:34 pm »
Note: Please do not embed images, attach them instead.

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #164 on: 05/02/2011 09:15 pm »
And some more:

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/almaz_0205.html

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/almaz_0206.html


Thanks Skylab,

And there will be even more in an upcoming issue of Spaceflight magazine thanks to tonyq!!!

But I disagree with Russianspaceweb's assessment of No. 0205. All Almaz hulls were built to the same specifications (i.e. for manned missions). They all have the same number of openings for windows and optical equipment, as well as front and rear openings for hatches. But the evidence strongly suggest that this one was being refurbished for an autonomous (or at best, man tended) mission. There is a viewing window in 0205, but that may have been for the benefit of Excalibur Almaz. Nothing else suggest this was to have been manned.

Here's an interesting feature: In the interior shot of the bare-bones hull posted above by tonyq, the object in the foreground is the bottom of an AGAT camera housing. One of these hasn't flown since 1975, and was even replaced in the unlaunched fourth Almaz.

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #165 on: 05/03/2011 03:45 am »
There is one piece of speculation on Russianspaceweb that I need to address. On his Excalibur Almaz page http://www.russianspaceweb.com/almaz_excalibur.html Anatoly Zak states:

In the original Soviet designs, the VA capsule was connected to the massive FGB propulsion and storage module. Together VA and FGB would form the TKS transport ship.

He then speculates:

Unlike TKS, the design proposed by Excalibur Almaz featured no visible rendezvous antennas or docking hardware, suggesting that the VA passenger capsule could be launched along with the station. Ironically, this would require to launch the station in the "upside down" position comparing to the original liftoff arrangement of the Soviet Almaz.

In the original Almaz design the VA capsule could be launched attached to the front the FGB or to the front of the Almaz station itself.

The illustration which Excalibur Almaz provided to Russianspaceweb shows an Almaz VA capsule after docking to the station. If Excalibur Almaz chooses to launch both at the same time, they only need to attach the capsule to its intended spot at the front of the station. Supporting structures are already in place for this. They would not, and will not launch one of these stations "upside down".

Incidentally, before the second TKS docking port was added to the unlaunched Almaz-4, it was intended to be the first Almaz launched with a manned VA capsule. It was to have been the fulfillment of Chelomei's original design.

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman



Offline Skylab

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 477
  • Liked: 71
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #166 on: 05/03/2011 07:22 pm »
Some more (but older) pictures, many of Almaz/TKS:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9420712@N03/

Apologies if this has been linked to before.

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #167 on: 05/03/2011 07:43 pm »
Some more (but older) pictures, many of Almaz/TKS:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9420712@N03/

Apologies if this has been linked to before.

Thanks Skylab,

OMG!!! There are some incredible photos there!! Okay, kidding.

I'm kind of familiar with this. I am kosmos327, and this is my photostream.

The N-1 and LK photos are kind of a hobby. Almaz and all manned Chelomei projects are my passion!!! What you see on my flickr page is barely the tip of the iceberg. These are just photos I posted on various forums. There will be many awesome photographs coming out in the next year or two when I publish my book.

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman
« Last Edit: 05/03/2011 07:44 pm by Capt. David »

Offline Skylab

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 477
  • Liked: 71
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #168 on: 05/03/2011 07:45 pm »
Okay, nice job on that album! Didn't check your profile before linking this, perhaps the info would've been there. But I'd say it adds to this thread anyhow.

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #169 on: 05/03/2011 07:49 pm »
Okay, nice job on that album! Didn't check your profile before linking this, perhaps the info would've been there. But I'd say it adds to this thread anyhow.

Thanks. I'm happy to be of assistance any time I can.

Best,

David

Offline Danderman

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10288
  • Liked: 699
  • Likes Given: 723
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #170 on: 05/03/2011 10:25 pm »
The TKS had a toilet?

 ??? ???

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #171 on: 05/04/2011 01:07 am »
The TKS had a toilet?

 ??? ???

Apparently so, or at least this mock-up did. Makes me wonder about the TKS training mission, and if this toilet was for it. Doesn't look too "space flight" friendly though, does it?

I've updated Flickr with this clearer screen grab

I'll try to post a series of TKS photos from this video on my Flickr account.

Best,

David L. Rickman

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #172 on: 05/04/2011 08:22 pm »
The TKS had a toilet?

 ??? ???

Apparently so, or at least this mock-up did. Makes me wonder about the TKS training mission, and if this toilet was for it. Doesn't look too "space flight" friendly though, does it?

I've updated Flickr with this clearer screen grab

I'll try to post a series of TKS photos from this video on my Flickr account.

Best,

David L. Rickman

Done!
You can now find a series of TKS mock-up interior photos on my Flickr account:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9420712@N03/

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman

Offline Danderman

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10288
  • Liked: 699
  • Likes Given: 723
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #173 on: 05/05/2011 05:17 am »
Great!

What's a TKS mockup?

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #174 on: 05/05/2011 02:31 pm »
Great!

What's a TKS mockup?


From all appearances, this one seems to be made out of something other than metal. It looks like the final design with all access hatches in place, but this is definitely not launch capable, or even an engineering useful item.

It just a great big model. ;)

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman

Offline Downix

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7082
  • Liked: 22
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #175 on: 05/19/2011 07:28 pm »
You know, a thought hit me.  How many Almaz capsules does Excalibur actually have?  How quickly could they be made ready to launch?
chuck - Toilet paper has no real value? Try living with 5 other adults for 6 months in a can with no toilet paper. Man oh man. Toilet paper would be worth it's weight in gold!

Offline baldusi

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8356
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Liked: 2539
  • Likes Given: 8273
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #176 on: 05/19/2011 08:30 pm »
They've shown two. But are mostly an empty hull, from what I understand. The question might be if Paragon can install their ECSS (because of ITAR).

Offline baldusi

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8356
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Liked: 2539
  • Likes Given: 8273
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #177 on: 05/19/2011 11:00 pm »
Yes, but it should be integrated by an American company. And all the interfaces either abstracted or even the design made by an American company. So you'd basically be buying whatever they have now and designing something around them. I don't really know if it falls under ITAR. But it seems logical. It's a fundamental part of what makes it a spacecraft.

Offline Downix

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7082
  • Liked: 22
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #178 on: 05/20/2011 06:29 am »
How quickly could an Almaz capsule be made ready, if funding were available?  And could it be outfitted with a docking port able to attach to the ISS?
chuck - Toilet paper has no real value? Try living with 5 other adults for 6 months in a can with no toilet paper. Man oh man. Toilet paper would be worth it's weight in gold!

Offline Capt. David

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 130
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Excalibur Almaz
« Reply #179 on: 05/20/2011 01:35 pm »
How quickly could an Almaz capsule be made ready, if funding were available?  And could it be outfitted with a docking port able to attach to the ISS?

Excalibur Almaz has stated that they expect the first test launch in 2012 or 2013, with the first manned launch in 2014 or 2015.

They can make the capsules capable of docking to the ISS, but that would add considerable cost to that mission, as there are no plans to do so. These capsules won't be for transportation to the ISS. These will be tailored to fit the needs of private researchers, companies, and tourist.

Best Regards,

David L. Rickman

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0