Lunar PPTS and docking ports

[Nickolai]

Two questions about Russian space plans/program

1) From what I've heard, the next-generation crew ship will use tiles for thermal protection. I thought tiles don't have enough heat resistance for the temperatures created by a direct lunar re-entry? If so, how will they achieve lunar missions? Could they put an ablative shield on top of the tiles to handle some of the stress?

2) I've noticed that the docking adapter between different Russian space modules are round, typically filled with hoses, and rather small, whereas the adapters on the USOS are square, large, and mostly uncluttered. I've also heard that the USOS docking adapters were design to handle science racks so that experiments could be switched out. Why hasn't Russia made it's docking adapters more like the US's? From the looks of it, the node module they plan on launching in a couple years will have the same docking adapters... you'd think it would be a good time to upgrade to a more capable system?

[Jorge]

2) I've noticed that the docking adapter between different Russian space modules are round, typically filled with hoses, and rather small, whereas the adapters on the USOS are square, large, and mostly uncluttered. I've also heard that the USOS docking adapters were design to handle science racks so that experiments could be switched out. Why hasn't Russia made it's docking adapters more like the US's? From the looks of it, the node module they plan on launching in a couple years will have the same docking adapters... you'd think it would be a good time to upgrade to a more capable system?

Money.

[Jim]

Two questions about Russian space plans/program

1) From what I've heard, the next-generation crew ship will use tiles for thermal protection. I thought tiles don't have enough heat resistance for the temperatures created by a direct lunar re-entry? If so, how will they achieve lunar missions? Could they put an ablative shield on top of the tiles to handle some of the stress?

2) I've noticed that the docking adapter between different Russian space modules are round, typically filled with hoses, and rather small, whereas the adapters on the USOS are square, large, and mostly uncluttered. I've also heard that the USOS docking adapters were design to handle science racks so that experiments could be switched out. Why hasn't Russia made it's docking adapters more like the US's? From the looks of it, the node module they plan on launching in a couple years will have the same docking adapters... you'd think it would be a good time to upgrade to a more capable system?

The docking adapters (Shuttle and Orion) on the USOS are round and can't pass racks.  The berthing adapters can pass racks.  There is a difference in between berthing and docking

[Serafeim]

the tiles are for around the capsule.the main  shield will be probably an ablative..

[Nickolai]

Two questions about Russian space plans/program

1) From what I've heard, the next-generation crew ship will use tiles for thermal protection. I thought tiles don't have enough heat resistance for the temperatures created by a direct lunar re-entry? If so, how will they achieve lunar missions? Could they put an ablative shield on top of the tiles to handle some of the stress?

2) I've noticed that the docking adapter between different Russian space modules are round, typically filled with hoses, and rather small, whereas the adapters on the USOS are square, large, and mostly uncluttered. I've also heard that the USOS docking adapters were design to handle science racks so that experiments could be switched out. Why hasn't Russia made it's docking adapters more like the US's? From the looks of it, the node module they plan on launching in a couple years will have the same docking adapters... you'd think it would be a good time to upgrade to a more capable system?

The docking adapters (Shuttle and Orion) on the USOS are round and can't pass racks.  The berthing adapters can pass racks.  There is a difference in between berthing and docking

Yes, berthing ports are what I meant, thank for correcting me

[Nickolai]

the tiles are for around the capsule.the main  shield will be probably an ablative..

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Tiles are for around the capsule? You mean the "sides" with the windows will have tiles, and then the bottom blunt part will be an ablative since it handles higher temperatures?

[Serafeim]

yes...

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