http://m.sputniknews.com/science/20160305/1035843182/russia-space-tourism.htmlThey have declared their intent to launch by 2020.
Экипаж: 6 туристов + инструктор. Цена билета: 200÷250 тыс. $. Высота полёта: 180÷220 км. Время в невесомости: 5÷6 минут. Время полёта: 15 минут. Первый полёт: 2020 год.
Looks like the capsule is firing the landing rockets for reentry in step 4. They must be using them to reduce the reentry g forces, which will be brutal from 200km. For reference, Mercury reached an apogee around 190km and had over 11g on the way back down.
How much extra free fall time does going to 200km give over 100km?.
I think you're conflating ready built hardware with technology. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt, though I take your point.
Quote from: Borklund on 03/06/2016 08:59 pmI think you're conflating ready built hardware with technology. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt, though I take your point.It's not just a lack of ready-built hardware, it's never having built any sort of prototype rocket that does vertical landing that's anything like a stage that could put something in sub-orbital space.I'm not saying that it's a particularly challenging technology or that Russia couldn't do it, just that saying "the company already has all the technologies it requires" is not really accurate.
I always love the story of how the American's invested millions of $$ to make a 'space pen" that worked in zero g, when we asked the Soviets how they solved this problem, they said they used a pencil.That the innovative spirit I would love to see.
Both U.S. astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts initially used pencils on space flights, but those writing instruments were not ideal: pencil tips can flake and break off, and having such objects floating around space capsules in near-zero gravity posed a potential harm to astronauts and equipment. (As well, after the fatal Apollo 1 fire in 1967, NASA was anxious to avoid having astronauts carry flammable objects such as pencils onboard with them.)When the solution of providing astronauts with a ballpoint pen that would work under weightless conditions and extreme temperatures came about, though, it wasn't because NASA had thrown hundreds of thousands of dollars (inflated to $12 billion in the latest iterations of this tale) in research and development money at the problem. The "space pen" that has since become famous through its use by astronauts was developed independently by Paul C. Fisher of the Fisher Pen Co., who spent his own money on the project and, once he perfected his AG-7 "Anti-Gravity" Space Pen, offered it to NASA. After that agency tested and approved the pen's suitability for use in space flights, they purchased a number of the instruments from Fisher for a modest price.
Quote from: Stan-1967 on 03/06/2016 10:18 pmI always love the story of how the American's invested millions of $$ to make a 'space pen" that worked in zero g, when we asked the Soviets how they solved this problem, they said they used a pencil.That the innovative spirit I would love to see.Everyone loves the story of the space pen and those clever Russians and their pencils. Too bad it isn't true.From Snopes.com, debunker of myth:QuoteBoth U.S. astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts initially used pencils on space flights, but those writing instruments were not ideal: pencil tips can flake and break off, and having such objects floating around space capsules in near-zero gravity posed a potential harm to astronauts and equipment. (As well, after the fatal Apollo 1 fire in 1967, NASA was anxious to avoid having astronauts carry flammable objects such as pencils onboard with them.)When the solution of providing astronauts with a ballpoint pen that would work under weightless conditions and extreme temperatures came about, though, it wasn't because NASA had thrown hundreds of thousands of dollars (inflated to $12 billion in the latest iterations of this tale) in research and development money at the problem. The "space pen" that has since become famous through its use by astronauts was developed independently by Paul C. Fisher of the Fisher Pen Co., who spent his own money on the project and, once he perfected his AG-7 "Anti-Gravity" Space Pen, offered it to NASA. After that agency tested and approved the pen's suitability for use in space flights, they purchased a number of the instruments from Fisher for a modest price.http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
I'm still pulling for the Russian, but agree they suffer from time dilation disorder worse than the worst US rocket companies. Even though the Russians have some relevant historical experience, it is likely that most of the talent base is retired old cold warriors. Where to talented Russian scientists and engineers typically end up?
Our project is similar to Blue Origin, but compared to them we have a higher flight altitude (200 km against 100) and we have more time spent in weightlessness (5–6 minutes versus 3–4 minutes).
"Our technical design specification was approved by Roscosmos two days ago. The system’s preliminary design will be created with this document," Pushkin said at the InSpace forum.According to him, the technical design specification has also been approved by the Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash) and the Keldysh Research Center. In addition, Pushkin said, Roscosmos chief Igor Komarov has already approved the project. "Igor Anatolyevich has taken the project with enthusiasm and gave orders to promote this project", Pushkin said.
