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International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: GioFX on 07/19/2006 07:26 pm

Title: Kliper news
Post by: GioFX on 07/19/2006 07:26 pm
Flightglobal.com:

Farnborough: Energia’s Kliper work continues with wind tunnel tests

Wind tunnel testing of the six-crew reusable spacecraft Kliper is ongoing despite the decision not to use the vehicle for a European Space Agency (ESA), Russian Federal Space Agency (FSA) manned transportation system study.
Originally a bid proposal to win FSA’s reusable manned spacecraft tender, Energia and its two competitors lost when the tender was cancelled after ESA declined to support a winged vehicle.
However Energia intends to develop and test Kliper by  2015 and  field  it in 2016. But some technology maturation has to be accomplished before a final full scale development decision is taken.
“We are testing a 1:20 scale down model of the wing [in a wind tunnel],” says Energia’s International Space Station, Automated Transfer Vehicle and Clipper directorate’s head of Clipper division Vladimir Daneev, speaking to Flight International exclusively at the Farnborough air show.

In the wind tunnel the wing is being subjected to various mach numbers, including transonic and hypersonic speeds.
This work furthers aerodynamic studies conducted with Sukhoi for the last three years. Thermodynamics research has also been carried out to understand thermal loads.
Computational fluids dynamics analysis of Kliper’s latest design has produced positive results, with lower heat levels than the configuration previously seen.
Daneev expects Kliper’s thermal protection system (TPS) to be similar to his company’s Buran shuttle’s and NASA’s Space Shuttle. The TPS would use carbon-carbon and carbon-silica tiles. Ceramics would be used for areas where heat levels do not get too high.
Kliper could be launched on the yet-to-be-designed Soyuz-3 launcher.

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/07/19/Navigation/177/207953/Farnborough+Energia%e2%80%99s+Kliper+work+continues+with+wind+tunnel.html
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: publiusr on 10/17/2006 09:13 pm
I'm starting to wonder if it will take UR-500 to get this thing into orbit...
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: TALsite on 09/21/2007 09:47 am
Bumped...

Any advance or development with Kliper?
Is a dead program?

Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: neviden on 09/21/2007 10:54 am
Quite dead. The Russians will work on upgrading Soyuz TMA instead.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: mr.columbus on 09/21/2007 12:33 pm
Quote
neviden - 21/9/2007  6:54 AM

Quite dead. The Russians will work on upgrading Soyuz TMA instead.

That's just half of the story. Soyuz upgrades have been done incrementally for decades.

Roskosmos has been looking for a successor to Soyuz for a while now, but until now all efforts have gone to way of the Dodo. Currently, Energia is working on the Russian side of the CSTS development project funded by both ESA and Roskosmos. CSTS is a pre-development study to come to a proposal of a Soyuz successor (based or not based on Soyuz, put very likely being a capsule design) that doesn't cost much and could be approved by both Roskosmos (respectively the Russian government) and ESA respectively ESA's membercountries on its biannual memberstate conference at the end of 2008.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Damon Hill on 09/23/2007 05:47 am
Yet another capsule proposal displayed at MAKS 2007:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_128/128-2/pages/P1050695.html

More details:

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

Should look familiar, it's an upsized version of the TKS already flown for certain Mir missions.
Massive (liquid fueled?) launch escape system, crew access through the heat shield, general
modular design.

And yet another version of Kliper, lifting body style:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_128/128-2/pages/P1050671.html

--Damon
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Steve G on 10/14/2007 06:11 am
They can't continue with Soyuz for another 50 years.  They need a new six to eight manned spacecraft in the next ten years.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: AntiKev on 10/14/2007 08:49 am
Why?  To go where?  ISS will come down in 2016.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: vt_hokie on 10/19/2007 02:30 pm
Quote
AntiKev - 14/10/2007  4:49 AM

Why?  To go where?  ISS will come down in 2016.

I still don't believe that.  To launch the European and Japanese labs now, and then node 3 for a mere 6 to 8 years of use is so insane that I can't believe even NASA would do something that stupid.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Namechange User on 10/19/2007 05:09 pm
ISS will not be coming down in 2016.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: mr.columbus on 10/19/2007 05:50 pm
Quote
vt_hokie - 19/10/2007  10:30 AM

Quote
AntiKev - 14/10/2007  4:49 AM

Why?  To go where?  ISS will come down in 2016.

I still don't believe that.  To launch the European and Japanese labs now, and then node 3 for a mere 6 to 8 years of use is so insane that I can't believe even NASA would do something that stupid.

Columbus is still going to be launched in December. That means it will stay in orbit in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and part of 2016, so up to 9 full years. Its nominal lifetime is 10 years. Same with Kibo. Node 3 is not that important, so cutting its use from 10 years to 7 years (2010-2016) is not that problematic.

We will however see whether the ISS gets an extension to 2020 - politicians need to decide.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: wannamoonbase on 10/19/2007 06:56 pm
Quote
vt_hokie - 19/10/2007  10:30 AM

Quote
AntiKev - 14/10/2007  4:49 AM

Why?  To go where?  ISS will come down in 2016.

I still don't believe that.  To launch the European and Japanese labs now, and then node 3 for a mere 6 to 8 years of use is so insane that I can't believe even NASA would do something that stupid.

Some would argue finishing the ISS is equally stupid.

ISS won't be abandoned outright in 2016, but it will become less important and perhaps with only Russian and ESA occupants with the occasional tourist.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Jim on 10/19/2007 07:03 pm
Quote
wannamoonbase - 19/10/2007  2:56 PM


ISS won't be abandoned outright in 2016, but it will become less important and perhaps with only Russian and ESA occupants with the occasional tourist.

No US, No ISS
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: ZmeyGorynych on 11/08/2007 02:10 pm
Quote
Jim - 18/10/2007  11:03 PM

Quote
wannamoonbase - 19/10/2007  2:56 PM


ISS won't be abandoned outright in 2016, but it will become less important and perhaps with only Russian and ESA occupants with the occasional tourist.

No US, No ISS
And what in exchange US will offer the Europe and Japan?

wannamoonbase is rights.
After 2016 US will not leave with ISS. But ISS will fade into the background, for the Moon.
On the contrary, US even is interested, that Russia has got stuck on LEO, in ISS and did not stir on the Moon. IMHO ;)
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: ZmeyGorynych on 11/08/2007 02:16 pm
Now Roscosmos prepares for new competition on a rocket for a new spacecraft. 12-17 tons on LEO.
What ship will be - new-TKS or Kliper - it is not known. But it will be exact. Approximately in 2015.

see that:
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7513&highlight=
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2509
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: ZmeyGorynych on 11/09/2007 10:38 am
News:

Quote
As transfers RIA "Novosti", Perminov has informed, that the government of Russia has approved the project of creation of the new space piloted ship and a booster rocket under it.
...
" We shall necessarily build both the new cosmodrome, and a new spacecraft, and the carrier under it, but all this will be after 2020 ", - chapter Roscosmos has told. It has noted also, that competition on creation of a new piloted reusable spacecraft proceeds. "Energy" and the  Khrunichev's Center.


Sorri for translation quality, the automatic
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: ZmeyGorynych on 11/09/2007 10:41 am
It at us so to elections prepare

:)  :)  :)  :)  :)  :)
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: ZmeyGorynych on 11/09/2007 01:30 pm
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2567
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: jmjawors on 11/09/2007 01:40 pm
That's really slipped, hasn't it?  Not until after 2020?   :o
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: ZmeyGorynych on 11/09/2007 01:50 pm
Hm...
Probably Perminov does not wish to frighten Kazakhs of leaving from Baikonur? ;)
But 12 years to build a new spacecraft... It too long...
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: publiusr on 11/16/2007 03:57 pm
Would it be possible to use R-7's conical strap-ons around a wider core--with one or two extra strap-ons? More trouble than its worth?
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: clongton on 11/16/2007 04:09 pm
Quote
publiusr - 16/11/2007  11:57 AM

Would it be possible to use R-7's conical strap-ons around a wider core--with one or two extra strap-ons? More trouble than its worth?
They already have such a vehicle, or at least they did. It launched the Bruan. The Energia launch family is / was everything I think you're looking for.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Danderman on 11/16/2007 08:31 pm

Quote
publiusr - 16/11/2007  8:57 AM  Would it be possible to use R-7's conical strap-ons around a wider core--with one or two extra strap-ons? More trouble than its worth?

 Something like this is the plan for Soyuz-3, which would be a Zenit class LV. Don't hold your breath, though.

 

Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: gospacex on 11/16/2007 09:02 pm
Quote
clongton - 16/11/2007  11:09 AM
Quote
publiusr - 16/11/2007  11:57 AM
Would it be possible to use R-7's conical strap-ons around a wider core--with one or two extra strap-ons? More trouble than its worth?
They already have such a vehicle, or at least they did. It launched the Bruan. The Energia launch family is / was everything I think you're looking for.

Those strapons were bigger and used different engines - RD-170. They were similar to Zenit 1st stages.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Danderman on 11/16/2007 09:17 pm
The Soyuz "2-3" concept is shown below:

http://www.buran.ru/images/jpg/souz-2-3.jpg

Here is the Russian story about it:

http://www.buran.ru/images/jpg/souz-2-3b.jpg

16 to 17 tons in LEO!
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: William Barton on 11/16/2007 09:28 pm
Quote
gospacex - 16/11/2007  5:02 PM

Quote
clongton - 16/11/2007  11:09 AM
Quote
publiusr - 16/11/2007  11:57 AM
Would it be possible to use R-7's conical strap-ons around a wider core--with one or two extra strap-ons? More trouble than its worth?
They already have such a vehicle, or at least they did. It launched the Bruan. The Energia launch family is / was everything I think you're looking for.

Those strapons were bigger and used different engines - RD-170. They were similar to Zenit 1st stages.

I've heard those strap-ons referred to a Zenit-1, and launchers evolved from them as -2 and -3. It always seemed to me if you attached 4 of the strapons to a Zenit 2/3 first stage, you'd have something pretty much equivalent to an S-1C.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Damon Hill on 11/17/2007 07:12 pm
Quote
Danderman - 16/11/2007  2:17 PM

The Soyuz "2-3" concept is shown below:

http://www.buran.ru/images/jpg/souz-2-3.jpg


Look at the image displayed in back of the model; that's apparently the
Soyuz 3.  Much larger strapons with single chamber staged combustion
engines throughout, a cylindrical upper core section with larger top stage
to match.  This is a completely modernized vehicle with a lot more
propellant and more efficient engines.

Still compatible with existing launch pads (with minor upgrades?), I think.

See also:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_128/128-4/pages/P1050739.html
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Danderman on 11/17/2007 08:09 pm
You wonder what the big deal is with replacing the central core engine with an NK-33, why didn't this happen years ago?
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Damon Hill on 11/18/2007 12:49 am
My guess is money and politics; the N-1 program and its components were quietly dismantled or shuffled into warehouses, including the various engines.  Similarly, the Energia/Buran program imploded along with the Soviet Union and the economy; the surviving Russian space program has shuffled along on a shoestring with all the funds first draining into the big Shuttlesky program and then the economy tanked and little money was available beyond keeping things just alive.  Existing systems were cheap and reliable, and that counts for a lot in the rocket business.  At least the N-1 and Energia/Zenit programs helped drive improved propulsion technology.

Now that the money's flowing again, the various interests either want to upgrade existing systems like the R-7 or replace all the legacy systems with new ones like Angara.  In the meantime incremental improvements have crept in as funding was available or old technology was becoming expensive or unavailable.

I wonder if Sintin (cyclopropane?) or similar advanced hydrocarbons and prechilling will also make a comeback?  Hypergolics do appear to be on their way out in Russia, but only if politics and inertia don't prevail.  (Similarly in China, it appears)
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Eraser on 11/18/2007 01:44 am
Stocks NK-33 engines are great, but not infinite. The revival of production is a complex decision, no one wants to take responsibility for it. Moreover, SNTK "NK Engines" belongs to the aviation industry and is not subordinate to the Roscosmos.    
Title: RE: Kliper news
Post by: patchfree on 02/10/2008 06:20 pm
It seems that's the time to reactivate this thread or to start a new one about the future new russian spacecraft as Vitali Lopota was giving an interview about it.

My problem is I have no english version of his interview. Who can help me with a translation from the russian version?
Title: RE: Kliper news
Post by: Jim on 02/10/2008 08:00 pm
Quote
patchfree - 10/2/2008  2:20 PM

It seems that's the time to reactivate this thread or to start a new one about the future new russian spacecraft as Vitali Lopota was giving an interview about it.

There would be hundreds of threads if one were made every time somebody said Russia is developing a new spacecraft
Title: RE: Kliper news
Post by: Danderman on 02/10/2008 10:54 pm

How about a link to the Russian interview?

 

Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Patchouli on 02/10/2008 11:09 pm
I hope they are going to continue development on kliper as it's a very good vehicle and a worthy successor to soyuz even uses a modernized version of soyuz's highly reliable launch vehicle.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Patchouli on 02/19/2008 05:55 am
Kliper does seem to have a far better chance then the TKS craft as kiper has a much easier to develop launch vehicle the soyuz 3 which is just an upgrade of the highly reliable launch vehicle that has served them so well.

Also the kliper system is much more flexible with is multiple reentry vehicle configurations the core vehicle can be either winged or lifting body and the parom tug with it's cargo container then the TKS vehicles I've seen so far .
Though the TKS's modular design could allow for it's own level of flexibility though matching the sheer bulk cargo capacity of parom and it's cargo container will not be easy.

Also we're forgeting the third competitor NPO molniya.

It seems RKK and the RSA have much more sound mars plans the the guys at NASA as they are actually working on the deep space propulsion and human end vs pretending it'll solve it's self before they get to flying a mars mission.

As for ESA involvement they seem to have ADD or something when it comes to manned spaceflight and tend to abandon projects halfway though vs finishing them a real shame too when you think about it as they had some great concepts.
The Russians are likely wisely considering a plan where they might have to do this with out the ESA which may not seriously join in until they see a next gen vehicle already flying.

Russia will develop a new spacecraft with or with out the ESA's involvement.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Patchouli on 02/19/2008 06:17 am
Quote
clongton - 16/11/2007  11:09 AM

Quote
publiusr - 16/11/2007  11:57 AM

Would it be possible to use R-7's conical strap-ons around a wider core--with one or two extra strap-ons? More trouble than its worth?
They already have such a vehicle, or at least they did. It launched the Bruan. The Energia launch family is / was everything I think you're looking for.

Buran didn't use the same strap-ons as the R7 the Buran used a LOx lH2 core and four lox kerosene boosters with RD170s these still are in use as the first stage of the Zenit launch vehicle.

As for getting more performance out of the R7 a high energy liquid hydrogen upper stage to replace the third stage might get the needed payload.

Other things they could do replace RD-108 in to core stage with a detuned NK-33 and use a larger third stage to fully utilize the increased second stage performance.

The NK-33 also could be used in the strap-on boosters and they may offer enough extra delta V  to allow recovery systems to be carried on the strap-ons so they may be reused.

 If you ever seen  pics of nearly intact boosters in the rocket grave yard in Kazakhstan it doesn't seem that outrageous a concept.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Jim on 02/19/2008 08:43 am
Quote
Patchouli - 19/2/2008  1:55 AM

Russia will develop a new spacecraft with or with out the ESA's involvement.

not near term
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: neviden on 02/19/2008 11:36 am
ESA (and Japanese that will join if ESA joins) and the Russians are already working on CSTS and we will have to see what comes out of that. That, more than anything else, will dictate Kliper’s fate. The first try at cooperation went something like  “We Russians, build – you Europeans pay” and of course Europeans said “forget it”.

I like the Parom part way more then I like Kliper part. For one thing, I have yet to see how can Kliper get from HEO or Moon orbit. Apollo shape can. Even Soyuz shape can, but Kliper with a lifting body design?

If that was NASA I wouldn’t be surprised, but Russians have a history of not fixing things that are not broken. Soyuz TMA is a good example of that thinking. I don’t see them abandoning Soyuz for a system that would do less.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: simonbp on 02/19/2008 03:36 pm
Quote
neviden - 19/2/2008  5:36 AM
If that was NASA I wouldn’t be surprised, but Russians have a history of not fixing things that are not broken. Soyuz TMA is a good example of that thinking. I don’t see them abandoning Soyuz for a system that would do less.

Well, that's more a function of them having nearly no funding for 15-odd years. And the Russians did abandon Buran (more capable for what they wanted to do) because it cost so much more than Soyuz...

Simon ;)
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: neviden on 02/19/2008 04:16 pm
I would hardly call Buran more cost effective then the Soyuz/Proton combination..
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Damon Hill on 02/19/2008 10:12 pm
The problem is that Soyuz/Progress have almost no growth capacity and very limited return capability.  A larger spacecraft design is needed, for which any of several proposed designs would serve.  Certainly a conical re-entry vehicle would be easier to use for a high-energy re-entry, but there aren't going to be many of those for the forseeable future while there is going to be a real demand for low earth orbit operations.

I like the general concept of Kliper, too.  Unanswered is how much the system is going to cost to develop, and what it will cost to operate.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Lampyridae on 02/20/2008 12:36 am
Quote
neviden - 19/2/2008  9:36 PM

ESA (and Japanese that will join if ESA joins) and the Russians are already working on CSTS and we will have to see what comes out of that. That, more than anything else, will dictate Kliper’s fate. The first try at cooperation went something like  “We Russians, build – you Europeans pay” and of course Europeans said “forget it”.

The Europeans seem like they're unwilling to go farther than Columbus and ATV for manned spaceflight. In fact, it looks like they're unwilling to do ANYTHING until AFTER ISS is deorbited. Which means that (if they decide to actually develop a crew vehicle) they would have something like ACTS or whatever by 2025. If they even bother putting humans into space. Whether or not the Brits decide to contribute to manned spaceflight will be a big predictor of what's going to happen.

As for the Russians, there's no telling what they'll do, but you can bet for the next decade or so it'll be lots of bold plans and no hardware. A 6 person crew transport is definitely on the cards, it's the flavour of the decade. With their increasingly nationalistic attitude, though, it won't be long before it's the good/bad old days of the Space Race... although with shoestring budgets.

One thing I am certain of is that nobody is going to go for a lifting body like Kliper, not anytime soon.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: wannamoonbase on 02/20/2008 11:54 am
If I was ESA or JAXA I would team up on a manned vehicle, perhaps with Indian involvement too.  But I wouldn't team up with Russia.  they are unreliable, do what they want and take forever to do what they agreed too.  One might think they have something to leverage and offer but Japanese and European industry could easily match anything Russia has to offer and then you wouldn't be held hostage throughout the design and life of the vehicle.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: nacnud on 02/20/2008 12:11 pm
Quote
wannamoonbase - 20/2/2008  12:54 PM

But I wouldn't team up with Russia.  they are unreliable, do what they want and take forever to do what they agreed too.  

Could say the same about the US too, remember CAM, CRV, etc ;)
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: meiza on 02/20/2008 02:12 pm
Well, you probably get a lot of bang for the buck from Russia, considering their high skill level and knowledge base vs the lower salaries.
And of course it makes sense otherwise too in the larger sense, politically, to keep up good will and co-operate.
Title: RE: Kliper news
Post by: @RD170@ on 02/23/2008 06:50 pm
ESA doesn´t need any help from Russia. If ESA want a manned craft in 5 years could have a return manned capsule on a ATV modified. And beyond of this because his effort in advanced laser docking ESA could park two or tree ATV sized BUS and go to moon or mars. Only in 10 years.

But this cost a lot of money of course, and why you want a manned and expensive ATV if you can buy a cheap seat per 20 M in a reliable an cheap Soyuz from Kazhastan and maybe Kouru in 10 years.

Soyuz is clever way and cheaper way.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: MichaelF on 03/14/2008 08:05 am
ESA (or rather, it's member-states) seems to avoid manned spaceflight like vampires avoid garlic.  Their plan (if they have one) seems to be to buy into someone elses program.  That might not work for the Moon and/or Mars, especially if those become "Space Race"-style national projects.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: @RD170@ on 03/14/2008 10:37 am
You´re wright MichaelF, ESA is making the things you are saying. Esa has bought a Soyuz Launch Pad, to have the capability of manned LV in a short term. Maybe its a cleverer way to spend 200 millions of euros in a launch pad than design and construct a new one LV spending 10000 millions of euros in a new LV.

But I must remember you that USA makes the same thing. For Atlas Vehicle instead of develop a new hidrocarbon power plant ( RS-68 ), USA decided to buy a Russian power plant RD-180, developed from RD-170 and RD-171.

Who is cleverer ¿?
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: @RD170@ on 03/14/2008 10:43 am
Another thing, thanks to USA money in RD-180 Russia has developed RD-191 to his new project Angara.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: MichaelF on 03/14/2008 04:33 pm
Quote
@RD170@ - 14/3/2008  6:37 AM

You´re wright MichaelF, ESA is making the things you are saying. Esa has bought a Soyuz Launch Pad, to have the capability of manned LV in a short term. Maybe its a cleverer way to spend 200 millions of euros in a launch pad than design and construct a new one LV spending 10000 millions of euros in a new LV.

But I must remember you that USA makes the same thing. For Atlas Vehicle instead of develop a new hidrocarbon power plant ( RS-68 ), USA decided to buy a Russian power plant RD-180, developed from RD-170 and RD-171.

Who is cleverer ¿?

I meant that the ESA has no plans for an independant manned spaceflight program, and everytime the ESA has proposed such, the member-states have shot them down.

NASA may buy technologies from others, but they do have a manned spaceflight program (2, at the moment).  Not quite the same situation.

By "buying into someone else's program", I meant that it appears that the ESA will try to participate (whether by funds or technologies) in a Russian or US manned program (such as Constellation).  While that may have worked for the mature Soyuz and STS missions,  I doubt it will work for Lunar or Mars missions.  Not until long after the initial landings, anyway.

IOW, the ESA's usual methods of getting where they want to go (in this case, Luna or Mars) aren't going to work, unless they are OK with getting the odd seat on "Altair 25" or the 12th Mars Expedition.  
The big two (US and Russia) are likely to be unwilling to share the glory of the initial landings (and neither will put ESA in the critical systems path, for different reasons).

The scifi movie trope, where the first Mars lander/hab has 12 different flags on it, is.....not likely to be reflected in reality.  

The harsh part is that the longer the ESA (and JAXA) wait to get into a manned spaceflight program, the farther behind they fall (and, in turn, the longer it will take them to gain equivalent capabilities to NASA and RSA).  If the US and/or Russia (with China perhaps a distant third) have functioning manned lunar activities in 2030, it's going to be very hard to sell a modest manned LEO program to the ESA member-states ("All that money, just to get the capability the Russians had in 1980??  And we still won't be competitive?").  No one wants to spend lots of money just to be dead last.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: @RD170@ on 03/14/2008 04:42 pm
Again MichaelF you´re right, ESA can´t afford manned missions to mars or moon alone. ESA must share costs.
We must remember that in CCCP times Buran and Energía contributed to crack down the economy of the country.
We must learn about past.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: MichaelF on 03/14/2008 04:53 pm
Quote
@RD170@ - 14/3/2008  12:42 PM

Again MichaelF you´re right, ESA can´t afford manned missions to mars or moon alone. ESA must share costs.

Again, that only works if the guys who are going (in this case, NASA and RSA) want to share.  Nothing ESA is willing* to do will buy them a seat on the initial Lunar or Mars landings.  Perhaps later, long after the political and national points have been proven, a few slots might open up.

This still leaves ESA a distant third (and fourth, when the Chinese program matures), at the bottom of the gravity well.  It's up to the member states to decide whether they are OK with that.  If they aren't, they should do what China has done.


*-just because you buy me a nice seat cover, doesn't make it likely I'm going to let you drive my Countache.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: @RD170@ on 03/14/2008 05:26 pm
It´s difficult to spend more money in this heavy and difficult times for the USA economy. Petrol is very expensive and EU is making a big effort to invest in Windmill power and renovable energy. The effort of EU is now here. EU want to spend money in infraestructure, power and telecomunications in earth.  And USA must give up his dependency on Petrol.

EU and ESA hasn´t money to burn. And maybe NASA will be cutted by 50% in 10 years if all this goes the same.

We must remember the help from the central EU and World Bank to USA nowadays. They are dificult years for usa indeed.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: @RD170@ on 03/14/2008 05:39 pm
So in a manned plan money is the key. Any country want to go like CCCP ¿? spending money that they don´t have ¿? for what ¿? for the proud to touch moon or mars before ¿?.
Seriusly ¿?
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: MichaelF on 03/14/2008 08:12 pm
Quote
@RD170@ - 14/3/2008  1:39 PM

So in a manned plan money is the key. Any country want to go like CCCP ¿? spending money that they don´t have ¿? for what ¿? for the proud to touch moon or mars before ¿?.
Seriusly ¿?

False dichotomy.  NASA's budget is ~0.5% of the Federal Budget.  Not the GDP.  The Budget.  The US Army is spending much, much more on a single vehicle system (FCS).  It's not like Griffin is lighting cigars with $100 bills.

Secondly, at worst, we are looking at a mid-80's style downturn in the economy.  Not exactly the Great Depression.  The only reason NASA might get slashed is if we get a Proxmire Congress (or Obama).

ESA is underfunded.  Especially with the Euro the way it is.  The member-states need to fish or cut bait, as the point of diminishing returns (at which getting into a manned program, even an ambitious one, would leave you lagging everyone else by 15-20 years) is fast approaching.

As I said, why should the member-states pay all that money to repeat something the US and Russia accomplished a decade prior? (NASA returns to Luna in 2019, what prestige does Europe get by doing the same thing in 2030, when NASA is on the way to Mars?)

The Chinese are trying to catch up because they understand the long view, and believe (possibly correctly) that they can catch up.  Or at least achieve a level of presence that will preclude Space turning into a US/Russian lake.  
The ESA member-states don't have anything approaching this level of foresight, even though several of them could afford a Chinese-level space program on their own.

That attitude, not the money, is what keeps ESA at the bottom of the gravity well (except when NASA or RSA have spare seats).
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: wannamoonbase on 03/15/2008 02:17 am
MichaelF, trying to get that many member countries to all agree at the same time is difficult.  

But you are right, its time for ESA and Europe to get off center and get in the game or they will be buying seats to the Moon and Mars.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Patchouli on 03/30/2008 11:46 pm
The ESA can easily make a crew transport vehicle they could go the cheap and quick route and just add a descent vehicle to the ATV or go the Cadillac route and repackage the ATV's guts into a mini shuttle.

The descent vehicle can be based off ARD or they can just buy one off Russia or the open market.

A good landing system for ARD could be based off the VA capsule recovery system.

As for partners the best one at to moment by far would be Russia kliper and the parom tug are similar and a kliper would be a good choice for use with the ATV propulsion section.

Second option and this can be done concurrently the private groups like Spacex,Spacedev,and Orbital sciences.

Dragon also like Kliper could make a great complementary vehicle to the ATV esp the ATV mini spacestation.

Others might include Dream Chaser which might work very well on the Ariane V booster.

As for constellation they should try and stay far away from it for a few years as at the moment it's looking like another X33 and really isn't an optimal system anyway.


Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Lampyridae on 03/31/2008 12:19 am
The big manned spaceflight objective in coming decades will be the moon. At the rate NASA is going, it might wind up being 2nd or even 3rd in the gravity well after all. Russia and USA are both being hampered by internal infighting and politics, whilst China has a (seemingly) much more coherent vision.

Originally there weren't going to be all those flags on the Space Station Freedom and in the end all those flags are what kept ISS together in the first place! It's not so much budgetary contribution as simple lack of interest. What kept the ISS and shuttle flying all these years has been the "foot in the door" strategy. Oh, well, we've come this far, can't back out now, we've spent so much money etc. plus wimping out on those international agreements would be so bad.

Of all the nations on the ISS, who has the biggest, fanciest lab modules? The Japanese. They've invested 5x as much the Europeans.

As for a Kliper replacement, you really want something capable of lunar reentry and that means something like an Apollo. All lifting bodies are out; they're too expensive anyway and don't justify the structural mass hit.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: hop on 03/31/2008 01:05 am
Quote
Lampyridae - 30/3/2008  5:19 PM

The big manned spaceflight objective in coming decades will be the moon. At the rate NASA is going, it might wind up being 2nd or even 3rd in the gravity well after all. Russia and USA are both being hampered by internal infighting and politics, whilst China has a (seemingly) much more coherent vision.
???

There is no indication that China is even seriously pursuing the idea, never mind having a "much more coherent vision"

They certainly don't have a program that has anywhere near the commitment that the VSE has. Neither does Russia.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Patchouli on 03/31/2008 01:40 am
Lifting bodies can perform lunar reentries and in theory so can a space plane if a skip reentry is used.

The Apollo is not the only shape one can use for this nor is it the best LM likely hit on the best shape so far with their first CEV concept the lifting CEV.

The apollo shape can't be used for high speed mars returns with out the MTV acting as a breaking stage or a skip reentry is used for example while a lifting body can perform a direct return.

Lockheed Martin found they needed a L/D of at least 1 if the G forces were to be kept under 6 or 7.

The LM vehicle was designed with mars return in mind and they went and figured out how to apply it for lunar missions.

Other workable shapes the soyuz headlamp shape not as low g as apollo but within limits as well as the biconic shape.

The biconic shape might be more ideal as this also might work for mars reentry and provides lots of cross range yet is still very simple it's also more mass efficient then apollo.

Here's a link of a biconic vehicle showing how the interior space is better utilized.
http://images.spaceref.com/news/2005/biconic.cev.l.jpg


As far as mass goes the three module soyuz system is by far the most mass efficient system tried so far and this is what the Chinese choose likely with the moon in mind.

Though having three modules can be used with any shape of reentry vehicle if you move the parts around.

The LM CEV concept for example did use three modules for lunar trips even though it was a lifting body.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Jim on 03/31/2008 02:44 am
Quote
Patchouli - 30/3/2008  9:40 PM

 MTV acting as a breaking stage


which it isn't.  The CEV will detach days before reaching earth
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Jim on 03/31/2008 02:45 am
Quote
Patchouli - 30/3/2008  9:40 PM

Lifting bodies can perform lunar reentries and in theory so can a space plane if a skip reentry is used.

The Apollo is not the only shape one can use for this nor is it the best LM likely hit on the best shape so far with their first CEV concept the lifting CEV.

The apollo shape can't be used for high speed mars returns with out the MTV acting as a breaking stage or a skip reentry is used for example while a lifting body can perform a direct return.

Lockheed Martin found they needed a L/D of at least 1 if the G forces were to be kept under 6 or 7.

The LM vehicle was designed with mars return in mind and they went and figured out how to apply it for lunar missions.

Other workable shapes the soyuz headlamp shape not as low g as apollo but within limits as well as the biconic shape.

The biconic shape might be more ideal as this also might work for mars reentry and provides lots of cross range yet is still very simple it's also more mass efficient then apollo.

Here's a link of a biconic vehicle showing how the interior space is better utilized.
http://images.spaceref.com/news/2005/biconic.cev.l.jpg


As far as mass goes the three module soyuz system is by far the most mass efficient system tried so far and this is what the Chinese choose likely with the moon in mind.

Though having three modules can be used with any shape of reentry vehicle if you move the parts around.

The LM CEV concept for example did use three modules for lunar trips even though it was a lifting body.

All conjecture without any facts
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: meiza on 03/31/2008 02:47 pm
Hmm, I think there are some strong connections between L/D and re-entry gees anyway.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Patchouli on 03/31/2008 09:29 pm
This getting to be thread hijack but as far as the MTV goes well we all have no firm idea as there is no mars transport system finalized yet.

A mars mission is very far off so everything is nothing more then speculation and theory.

Even if Griffin says something on what will be used there will have been several Presidents and NASA administrators by then.

It's just too early to be set on anything at this moment in time esp when things like radiation shielding crew size needed and amount of artificial g required is not known.

Though on G it's likely best to error on the side of being conservative.

It would be bad PR to have to crew end up wheelchair bound or even unable to return to earth.


We don't even have formal funding set aside at this moment for R&D on the propulsion for the mission as that has not been decided yet.

The final form may not be realized until someone finds out whither there is ice on the moon to mined and is it economical when compared to alternatives.

NEP might win out just because it'll allow one to power a magnetic bubble since they found the radiation is to high to be safe.

The closest thing I saw to a detailed plan was a BTNR mission that made use of a transhab and the VASIMR study.

Oh and Zurbin's ISRU mission was fairly detailed engineering wise but didn't take some human physiology issues into account early on.


The Orion might not even be used on a mars mission the return vehicle could be something like Zurbin's ERV or could be something no one has even seen yet because it hasn't been invented yet.

By 2030 the Orion could be nothing more then a museum piece having been replaced by a new vehicle and hopefully it will be replaced by then.

We don't want to repeat the shuttle ad keep a vehicle around long after it becomes outdated.

Heck by 2030 HLVs as we know them may have fallen out of fashion to low cost RLVs and robotic assembly.

Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Lampyridae on 04/01/2008 03:28 am
Quote
The biconic shape might be more ideal as this also might work for mars reentry and provides lots of cross range yet is still very simple it's also more mass efficient then apollo.

Er, no... even from that drawing you can see dead space everywhere.

Apollo capsule good. Apollo capsule works. We like Apollo capsule. Everybody like Apollo capsule.

Yes, 3 modules is more mass efficient but manned spacecraft are pricey and it is worth recycling much of them. Also, you don't have to worry about yet another separation event (which almost resulted in one lost Soyuz crew, I believe).
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Lampyridae on 04/01/2008 03:36 am
Quote
Patchouli - 1/4/2008  7:29 AM
1. Oh and Zurbin's ISRU mission was fairly detailed engineering wise but didn't take some human physiology issues into account early on.

2. By 2030 the Orion could be nothing more then a museum piece having been replaced by a new vehicle and hopefully it will be replaced by then.


1. I disagree, he baselined artificial gravity at very conservative RPM values and also suggested opposition-class trajectory for its lower g loadings on Earth re-entry - as opposed to the conjuction class "fast" trajectory favoured by NASA which would have resulted in plenty of Gs for the crew.

2. Yeah we can hope but past experience proves us wrong. If Orion enjoys the success of Soyuz, we could wave bye-bye to Orion by 2065. Kliper might hang around until 2070.

Even if you conjecture passenger-carrying RLVs by 2030, they are not suited for lunar or Mars missions which is what Kliper / ACTS and Orion are for.
Title: Re: Kliper news
Post by: Jorge on 04/01/2008 03:42 am
Quote
Lampyridae - 31/3/2008  10:28 PM

Quote
The biconic shape might be more ideal as this also might work for mars reentry and provides lots of cross range yet is still very simple it's also more mass efficient then apollo.

Er, no... even from that drawing you can see dead space everywhere.

Apollo capsule good. Apollo capsule works. We like Apollo capsule. Everybody like Apollo capsule.

Yes, 3 modules is more mass efficient but manned spacecraft are pricey and it is worth recycling much of them. Also, you don't have to worry about yet another separation event (which almost resulted in one lost Soyuz crew, I believe).

Did result in loss of one Soyuz crew (Soyuz 11). The valve failure was caused by the orbital module separation.

Almost resulted in loss of two more (Soyuz 5, Soyuz TM-5). In the former, separation didn't happen when it should have; in the latter, separation almost happened when it shouldn't have.