Don't bet your money on it guys. Personally I'll be positively surprised if MLM launches in 2011I'll be even more surprised if the nodal module and science and power modules get built and get launched. (Not even hoping they'll launch in the years mentioned above.)And as for that 'piloted station' or something. As much as I'd like it. It's not going to happen.These are nice powerpoint presentations, but no more than that. I'd be happy to be proven wrong though.
Note that the graphic for MRM-2 indicates that it will be launched by Soyuz FG, not Soyuz-U, which was the launcher for the similar Pirs
MLM, MRM-1 and MRM-2 are funded
According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, Roskosmos has offered to RSC Energia the following names for new Russian modules:MRM-2 - Поиск/Poisk/Search (or Quest )MRM-1 - Развитие/Rasvitie/DevelopmentMLM - Перспектива/Perspektiva/Perspective
Quote from: anik on 07/05/2009 05:38 pmAccording to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, Roskosmos has offered to RSC Energia the following names for new Russian modules:MRM-2 - Поиск/Poisk/Search (or Quest )MRM-1 - Развитие/Rasvitie/DevelopmentMLM - Перспектива/Perspektiva/PerspectiveAccording to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the following names are confirmed for new Russian modules:МИМ-2/MIM-2/MRM-2 - Поиск/Poisk/SearchМИМ-1/MIM-1/MRM-1 - Рассвет/Rassvet/DawnМЛМ/MLM/MLM - Наука/Nauka/Science
Probably said elsewhere, but could someone explain to me the fate of Pirs before MLM/Nauka arrives. It has to go to make room, but where ?
Quote from: hektor on 09/22/2009 09:04 amProbably said elsewhere, but could someone explain to me the fate of Pirs before MLM/Nauka arrives. It has to go to make room, but where ? It will be disposed off. A Progress transporter will take it with it at the end of its mission and will deorbit Pirs
This will probably only happen when MLM has been launched, or is close to launch. In the meantime, the Russian segment will have twin airlocks.Since MLM launch is more or less receding in time by one year for every year of real time, the question is: what defines end of service life for Pirs? If MLM never launches, how long can Pirs remain in service?
As per an old document, Pirs is only certified for an on-orbit lifetime of 10 years
Quote from: cd-slam on 09/23/2009 02:57 amAs per an old document, Pirs is only certified for an on-orbit lifetime of 10 yearsAccording to official documents, Pirs module was actually certified for only 5 years of an on-orbit lifetime.
I tried to find info about ERA ownership, but didn't succeeded with that. However I found this interesting PDF: http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/users/downloads/factsheets/fs008_11_era.pdf(I don't know if this link is already posted somewhere, but here it is)
Under a July 1996 agreement, Russia will take ownership of the flight hardware once it is launched, in exchange for which ESA will participate in robotics activities aboard the Station and Agency astronauts will be trained at the Gagarin centre.The ground systems remain the property of ESA.
If Russians somehow manage to finance nodal module and scientific power platforms, is there enough clearance for new solar panels at current ISS configuration?At least for me it seems that current US built big panels and Russian scientific power platform panels need to be synchronized pretty carefully to avoid hitting each other...