Now Rocket and Space Corporation Energia is working on a draft design of a new Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). In particular, the station's orbit will be chosen during the design process - the ROSS will either be left in the same orbit in which the ISS flies, or placed in a high-latitude orbit with an inclination of 97 degrees in order to see the Arctic and observe the Northern Sea Route. The preliminary design of the ROSS should be completed in the third quarter of 2023, after which the development of design documentation will begin.https://ria.ru/20220601/mks-1792347120.html
Quote from: Rondaz on 06/01/2022 01:12 pmNow Rocket and Space Corporation Energia is working on a draft design of a new Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). In particular, the station's orbit will be chosen during the design process - the ROSS will either be left in the same orbit in which the ISS flies, or placed in a high-latitude orbit with an inclination of 97 degrees in order to see the Arctic and observe the Northern Sea Route. The preliminary design of the ROSS should be completed in the third quarter of 2023, after which the development of design documentation will begin.https://ria.ru/20220601/mks-1792347120.htmlIs there any advantage to crewed EO platform? I thought these ideas died in the 60ties.
Quote from: JayWee on 06/01/2022 01:46 pmQuote from: Rondaz on 06/01/2022 01:12 pmNow Rocket and Space Corporation Energia is working on a draft design of a new Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). In particular, the station's orbit will be chosen during the design process - the ROSS will either be left in the same orbit in which the ISS flies, or placed in a high-latitude orbit with an inclination of 97 degrees in order to see the Arctic and observe the Northern Sea Route. The preliminary design of the ROSS should be completed in the third quarter of 2023, after which the development of design documentation will begin.https://ria.ru/20220601/mks-1792347120.htmlIs there any advantage to crewed EO platform? I thought these ideas died in the 60ties.It's supposed to be a kind of hub for different kinds of satellites and platforms. I think the crews would be doing repairs, not actually doing the observing themselves.Russia needs to maintain a human spaceflight programme that is independent to sustain its self image, so I assume a station is the cheapest option available alongside the participation in the ILRS (in fact there may turn out to be a convergence between the two if the Ryvok concept comes to fruition). Given this underlying requirement, they must have sought to make as much use of it for other purposes, as well as to bring the MoD on board (and vice-premier Yuri Borisov, responsible for defence and space industry, is one of the driving forces behind it).
I was deeply skeptical about this station, but deciding to put it in an SSO orbit makes me even more deeply skeptical, for several reasons:- The performance loss to SSO makes it a far trickier station to reach than ISS. Less cargo on Progress, Soyuz may not reach it all (and if it does, with razor thin margins). They might have to wait for their next-gen capsule on Angara 5, but that will be much more expensive and add a long pole in the schedule.- Crew launch and landing safety. Presumably they will launch northwards from Vostochny, but the abort zones will be very remote or in the Arctic Ocean. And landing opportunities over Russia or Kazakhstan will presumably be fewer per day. (Depending on their preferred landing area)- Crew radiation exposure at SSO, supposedly greater than at ISS.No, despite as cool as a space station in polar orbit sounds, I predict this SSO decision will be reversed or the project cancelled.