Excalibur Almaz

[Lars_J]

Baiknour is in decline .....by the time these systems are ready a choice will need to be made if ever.

There is an interesting irony in trying to launch museum hardware from a (soon to be?) museum launch site.

[Patchouli]

If the executives running Excalibur Almaz were prudent and dedicated about launching revamped Soviet-era hardware into orbit they would
have to choose to use Elon Musk's FH as the booster for hardware that ranges upto 15-20 metric tons.

There are two different launch issues here, the capsule and the space station.

The problem in choosing launcher is not just the mass required to enter orbit, but rather the interface with all of the spacecraft systems - you can't just take an Almaz space station, bring it to Cape Canaveral and launch it, since there are no checkout facilities for Almaz in Florida, nor any interfaces at the launch pads.

The reality is for the space stations, Baiknour is the only affordable launch site.

The capsules may be a different story, but I am not sure that launching over water would work for the capsule.

How much of the original Soviet era systems will still be in place after the vehicles are modernized?

From what I read all the avionics are being updated so by the time they're done the check out procedures and interfaces will be significantly changed.

Depending on how much as changed it could turn out they could launch from the Cape or Guianna but not from Baikinour due to the new systems being subject to ITAR.

Another issue  though is they need to have a mechanical payload interface built for their LV of choice.

[Danderman]

This is correct, if the Almaz capsules were gutted of all avionics, and any other Russian electronics, in theory, the spacecraft could be processed and launched outside of Baikonur.

It would be interesting to learn how much progress has been made in this direction.

An alternative would be to simply use the updated Russian components, which have the advantage of being cheaper, and having actual existence. These Russian components would be compatible with existing GSE at Baikonur or Vostochny. 

The last alternative would be to try to fly with the old components, but this would require searching through museums.

[russianhalo117]

This is correct, if the Almaz capsules were gutted of all avionics, and any other Russian electronics, in theory, the spacecraft could be processed and launched outside of Baikonur.

It would be interesting to learn how much progress has been made in this direction.

An alternative would be to simply use the updated Russian components, which have the advantage of being cheaper, and having actual existence. These Russian components would be compatible with existing GSE at Baikonur or Vostochny. 

The last alternative would be to try to fly with the old components, but this would require searching through museums.

The last I remember they were planning to go the new components route with the option to use components from CIS countries, but that was almost two years ago and I doubt I have the PDF anymore, but Mr. Zak does.

[ChrisWilson68]

There's no "scale" between serious effort and scam. A scam is a difference of kind, not scale. This is not the first time I've heard someone make this comparison. Please understand that you're accusing someone of a crime by suggesting they're engaging in a scam. It's not something you do lightly. Now, if you want to suggest they are being naive, or they're simply broke, go for it!

I disagree.  I think there is a range of possibilities between complete scam and completely legitimate, 100% honest and open business.

Many businesses that are looking for funding put a spin on their presentations to potential investors.  They play up the good and play down the bad.  There's a slippery slope from there to being more and more misleading, to outright lies and fraud.

It's easy to imagine the people starting a business at first hope it will succeed and start raising money, and then, as the prospects become more and more of a long shot, the continued raising of seed money to keep going gradually transforms it to an outright scam.

Where Excalibur Almaz is on the scale between completely honest but naive and completely dishonest, I don't know, but I don't think discussion of it should be off limits.

[QuantumG]

Where Excalibur Almaz is on the scale between completely honest but naive and completely dishonest, I don't know, but I don't think discussion of it should be off limits.

I disagree. You're failing the civility test. If you have proof of fraud, show it, otherwise keep your suspicions to yourself.

[Capt. David]

"In 1982 Valeriy Aleksandrovich Romanov, Anatoli Merkurievich Chekhtook, Sergei Erislavovich Kondratiyev took part in sea trials VA (№ № 003A and 003B) in the Black Sea near the town of Feodosia, using a special vessel "Sevan". The tests included the work of the crew in VA in finding him afloat for three days at sea state .5 to 1.25 meters as well as the evacuation of the crew VA MI-8 helicopter.

“Water landings are possible, and have been tested, and the vehicle has only one stable position in the water.”

"Some kind of simple altimeter (probably using the same gamma-ray detector that is used on Soyuz) triggered retrorockets in the upper part of the capsule to achieve a soft landing. A touchdown on ground or in water was possible. At landing the capsule weighed 3800 kg."

[Capt. David]

http://www.svengrahn.pp.se/histind/Almprog/tksalm.htm

[Patchouli]

This is correct, if the Almaz capsules were gutted of all avionics, and any other Russian electronics, in theory, the spacecraft could be processed and launched outside of Baikonur.

It would be interesting to learn how much progress has been made in this direction.

An alternative would be to simply use the updated Russian components, which have the advantage of being cheaper, and having actual existence. These Russian components would be compatible with existing GSE at Baikonur or Vostochny. 

The last alternative would be to try to fly with the old components, but this would require searching through museums.

Maybe to refit the capsules with the avionics from Soyuz TMA .
The VA is a larger capsule so packaging should be less of an issue.

Not sure if they plan on flying with the old components as most of the artwork I've seen has the capsules fitted with an all new service module that is much smaller then the original TKS module.

This one here looks vaguely like a Spacehab module from the shuttle program fitted with propulsion and resource modules.

[Capt. David]

This one here looks vaguely like a Spacehab module from the shuttle program fitted with propulsion and resource modules.

This illustration  is just a concept by their graphics man and does not reflect an actual design.

This is more like an actual design:

[Robotbeat]

Well, I wish you guys good luck! We need more space station companies than just Bigelow out there.

[Jirka Dlouhy]

I think, that this project is expensive science-fiction. They are great wishes combined with empty pocket (in space rates).

It's rarity among commercial projects. And it's not alone.

[Prober]

Doesn't the docking system on Almaz predate Soyuz ISS system?

[Robotbeat]

I think, that this project is expensive science-fiction. They are great wishes combined with empty pocket (in space rates).

It's rarity among commercial projects. And it's not alone.

Two points: Excalabur is still far better than most such projects, they actually have hardware (even if it does need a LOT of work). It's more likely to fly to orbit than Skylon. And, all such projects are difficult and could be characterized as expensive science fiction. Unless you're putting your money where your mouth is, they are actually doing far more to advance space flight than keyboard cowboys whining on the Internet.

They'll probably fail, but so what? They might not. I wish them all the luck in the world and Godspeed!

[Capt. David]

Doesn't the docking system on Almaz predate Soyuz ISS system?

THAT is a very good question. I don't have your answer, but that's best part of your question; it makes me look for the answer to a question I never thought about.

I will find the answer to your question, but I appreciate the question. It's something I never thought about until you asked!

[Capt. David]

...They are great wishes combined with empty pocket

Actually, they have a considerable amount of money, a European company, who has been working with them on the design*, NPO Iska (Spark) has been has been doing a little tweaking on the five solid propellant engines originally designed for the Almaz capsule**, A training facility in Houston, Texas, I could go on and on but the point is that they have been very busy working on the capsule*** and they are not doing this solo.

* I'm not sure if I'm aloud to say which company.
** This has been revealed, so it's public knowledge.
*** The Space Stations will come later, but currently it's the only design that can actually be fitted to capture and bring back to Earth orbit an asteroid, and won't THAT be something?

[ChrisWilson68]

Actually, they have a considerable amount of money

Define "considerable".  With actual numbers, please.  At least with a range, say $1 million to $10 million.

[manboy]

Excalibur Almaz does seem very sketchy, much like Mars One, I don't think either are scams but both business cases seem to run off of optimism or denial. They don't have much surplus hardware, and they don't seem to be taking into account the cost needed to start production of new modules. I've seen them build mock-ups but no hardware, they've claimed they've done more but I haven't seen any evidence of it. Most of the testing was done decades ago and I'm skeptical how well documented it was and how applicable it will be to their spacecraft. They're based on the Isle of Man to dodge American taxes but yet they tried to receive American tax payer money. They're going to need at least several hundred million of dollars before they fly anyone and since they lost CCDev it doesn't look like they have anyway to raise that amount. The capsule can only transport three crewmembers, which is four less than its competitors. They also don't seem to know what rocket they're launching on.

[Robotbeat]

It doesn't matter how weird the project is. If someone with a lot of money writes a check with enough zeros on it, it can happen, so long as it's technically feasible (which it probably is). Problem is those people tend to want to fund their own ideas, not someone else's.

[QuantumG]

Excalibur Almaz does seem very sketchy, much like Mars One, I don't think either are scams but both business cases seem to run off of optimism or denial.

That describes just about every startup too.