OKA-T

[Danderman]

Per Russianspaceweb.com, this project is postponed to 2017-2018 due to lack of customers.

[Danderman]

Found on the NK forum:

http://ria.ru/science/20111007/451940000.html


Google Translated:

"Launch of the first space laboratory, a factory "OKA-T" is delayed by two to three years due to lack of customers, told reporters on Friday, the deputy head of Russian Space Agency Vitaly Davydov.

Previously run "OKA-T" was planned for 2015.

"The construction and launch into orbit the first space laboratory, a factory" OKA-T "is delayed by at least 2-3 years due to the lack of real research projects, as well as customers" - said Davydov.

"We are now facing a challenge - to move the start of this laboratory for two to three years old. This does not mean that we abandon this project, just as we do not see him for real customers, and the device is very expensive - several billion rubles. With its launch, we wanted to try to start some kind of industrial production in space, but it's still can not "- said Davydov.

However, he said, in this direction were activated competitors.

"The worst thing that while we were ahead of competitors activated in this direction, now we are thinking about how not to do if the spacecraft in conjunction with the competition - chipped", - concluded the deputy head of the Russian Space Agency."

[360-180]

General view of the "OKA-T" in the second phase of the project

[Danderman]

This new image of OKA-T shows it to be a Parom tug plus microgravity module. The Parom section is noteworthy in that it has a 3.3 meter diameter section, which means that it cannot be launched with the standard Progress/Soyuz fairing, which implies it would be launched with the 4.1 meter fairing, which in turn implies launch on Soyuz-2.

[360-180]

This new image of OKA-T shows it to be a Parom tug plus microgravity module. The Parom section is noteworthy in that it has a 3.3 meter diameter section, which means that it cannot be launched with the standard Progress/Soyuz fairing, which implies it would be launched with the 4.1 meter fairing, which in turn implies launch on Soyuz-2.

OKA-T's microgravity module must have a source for energy. This microgravity module does not have solar arrays. It gets its power from the Parom tug. Probably, this Parom tug dedicated to OKA-T

[Danderman]

This new image of OKA-T shows it to be a Parom tug plus microgravity module. The Parom section is noteworthy in that it has a 3.3 meter diameter section, which means that it cannot be launched with the standard Progress/Soyuz fairing, which implies it would be launched with the 4.1 meter fairing, which in turn implies launch on Soyuz-2.

OKA-T's microgravity module must have a source for energy. This microgravity module does not have solar arrays. It gets its power from the Parom tug. Probably, this Parom tug dedicated to OKA-T

The standard probe and cone docking interface can pass a significant power to another module; presumably Parom's solar panels are more capable than Soyuz or Progress, so I am not sure if the OKA-T science module requires a "special" Parom tug, or whether an "off-the-shelf" Parom that would be used as an ISS tug as well could be used for this project.

[Danderman]

The NK forum reports that there is a new tender for OKA-T, for this many rubles: 350,000,000 - for work for another year.

Among the capabilities and requires for OKA-T (per Google Translate):

 A set of scientific instruments (KPA) for space experiments, hosted inside a sealed compartment and the outer surface of the spacecraft in outer space;
- "Spetsotsek" with standard docking system with a zone of internal transfer of cosmonauts for service on and process equipment;
- Tools and equipment service systems installed outside spetsotseka and the possibility of maintenance or replacement of individual units of service equipment for extravehicular activity of astronauts or with robotics;
- Airlock, interfaced with sealed compartment for the installation and extension into space scientific instruments with a diameter up to 0.8 m and a length of 1.5 m, maintenance and removal of items returned payload;
- The protective screen (EM), which provides a super-deep vacuum chamber is sealed and structurally linked to the airlock;
- Mounted radiator active thermal control system to remove heat from the complex process equipment and service equipment;
- The fuel system with a combined propulsion system, providing an opportunity to the fuel transfer ISS RS;
- Solar cell (SC) to a rotary drive panels solar battery

[360-180]

New information on Energia site
12/27/2012.
@In the RSC "Energia" began work on the project of free-flying spacecraft OKA-T, served on the ISS@
http://www.energia.ru/ru/news/news-2012/news_12-27.html

[Stan Black]

It probably will. I understand it is possible to transfer propellant from the FGB and Service Module tanks to the Progress service module (at least some of the ISS orbit corrections using Progress thrusters are said to be performed with propellants drawn from those tanks), so I would guess a certain amount of propellant can also be transferred to the OKA-T service module for manoeuvres in between dockings.

Although propellant can pass from the ISS prop tanks to the Progress mid-thrusters, Progress cannot have its prop tanks replenished from ISS.

Ok, so the propellant goes directly from the Zarya or Zvezda tanks to the Progress thrusters. Thanks for pointing that out.

Двигательная установка (ДУ) КА «ОКА-Т» должна обеспечивать:
-   возможность межорбитальных маневров, включая довыведение КА на базовую рабочую орбиту и дополнительные орбиты;
-   операции по сближению, причаливанию и стыковке с МКС;
-   требуемую ориентацию и стабилизацию КА «ОКА-Т» при проведении научных и технологических экспериментов;
-   дозаправку из топливных баков РС МКС (ППТС).
Пневмогидросистема КА «ОКА-Т» должна обеспечивать возможность ее многократной дозаправки компонентами топлива с борта МКС (ППТС). Компоненты топлива ДУ КА «ОКА-Т» должны быть совместимы с компонентами топлива МКС: АТин (ОСТ В113-03-503-85) + НДМГ (ГОСТ В17803-72).
При дозаправке топливной системы КА «ОКА-Т» с МКС должно обеспечиваться восстановление работоспособности вытеснительной системы подачи топлива.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=4528276

[Danderman]

I should note that although Progress prop tanks cannot be  replenished from ISS, there is no reason why another spacecraft designed to receive prop from ISS could not do so.

Another example is that Progress and Soyuz cannot provide power to ISS, but they can receive power from ISS.  Another type of spacecraft could provide for power in both directions.

[Stan Black]

 Do I understand this correct, that the 52КС was the TsSKB-Progress version of ОКА-Т-МКС? According to the 2007 annual report, Energia were working to TsSKB-Progress, providing one section.
 However the current contract for ОКА-Т-МКС is direct with Energia?

КА «ОКА-Т» состоит из двух отсеков: специального отсека, разработанного ГНПРКЦ «ЦСКБ-Прогресс», и служебного модуля, разработанного РКК «Энергия» им. С.П.Королева. Специальный отсек и служебный модуль образуют единый гермообъем.

http://www.e-disclosure.ru/portal/files.aspx?id=1615&type=2
http://www.findpatent.ru/patent/218/2181094.html
http://www.ria.ru/science/20121221/915734841.html
http://www.energia.ru/ru/news/news-2012/news_12-27.html

[Danderman]

As far as I know, RSC Energia is prime contractor for OKA-T, but I don't think the contract is very large.

The only news for 2013 for OKA-T that I could find was this Russian story:

http://ria.ru/science/20130604/941222988.html

Basically, they were looking for some cash from Europe to get this off the dime.

[Prober]

As far as I know, RSC Energia is prime contractor for OKA-T, but I don't think the contract is very large.

The only news for 2013 for OKA-T that I could find was this Russian story:

http://ria.ru/science/20130604/941222988.html

Basically, they were looking for some cash from Europe to get this off the dime.

surprised with the MLM mess Europe would go for this.

[Danderman]

As far as I know, RSC Energia is prime contractor for OKA-T, but I don't think the contract is very large.

The only news for 2013 for OKA-T that I could find was this Russian story:

http://ria.ru/science/20130604/941222988.html

Basically, they were looking for some cash from Europe to get this off the dime.

surprised with the MLM mess Europe would go for this.

They didn't.

When Russian projects run low on cash, they often look to European interests for funding, but very rarely does this materialize.

In fact, a good rule of thumb is if Europe goes looks for Russian support, they get it, but if Russia looks for European support, they don't get it.

Mostly because Russia looks for financial support, whereas Europe looks for technical support.

[russianhalo117]

BUMP

LINK: http://russianspaceweb.com/oka_t.html

Russia substitutes manned missions from Vostochny with Oka-T lab (with first launch in 2018)

The Russian space agency, Roskosmos, quietly replaced a highly advertised first launch of the nation's cosmonauts from the new space port in Vostochny with an automated space lab. The Oka-T module designed for periodic servicing by space station crews in orbit should provide an exit strategy for the Russian space officials, who made an impossible promise to the Kremlin to fly a manned mission from the new space center in 2018.

Oka's reversal of fortune

...To camouflage their "little trick," Russian space officials began characterizing the 2018 milestone as the "first launch within the manned space program," instead of the first "manned launch," without specifying what exactly would fly from Vostochny in 2018. As a result, the official Russian media continued its cheerleading of the upcoming manned launch from Vostochny. In reality, no cosmonaut would be able to blast off from Vostochny until 2020s, when the new-generation spacecraft and the Angara-5 rocket are finally certified to carry the crew.

Then, during Vladimir Putin's visit to Vostochny on Sept. 2, 2014, an official TV report caught a glimpse of a presentation handed out at a meeting chaired by the Russian president. The document revealed drawings of the Oka-T module and the Soyuz-2 rocket under a title "Achieving the first launch within manned space program in 2018."

Given the enormous political weight of the 2018 deadline, there is little doubt that a long-delayed Oka-T mission will finally get proper funding and attention. Moreover, given a possible multi-year gap between the introduction of the Oka-T and the arrival of the manned spacecraft at Vostochny, multiple Oka-T missions could be undertaken. However developers will likely be hard-pressed to provide the new platforms with adequate scientific payloads...

[Danderman]

http://russianspaceweb.com/oka_t.html#soyuz

Clearly, with the "Soyuz launch from Vostochny" dilemma out of the way, Roskosmos also went ahead with the cancellation of the OKA-T project, which had failed to provide an adequate political alternative for this issue anyway. With the controversial scientific justification for the spacecraft and tightening budget at the agency at the end of 2014, Roskosmos cut OKA-T from the scaled back draft of the 10-year Federal Space Program, which the agency approved in April 2015.