Success headed by Elon Musk of SpaceX met a very peculiar reaction of the leaders of the Russian space industry. Functionaries of "Rosatom" actually existing exclusively on budget money, instead of doing their job (for example, to create a competitive, or at least a properly functioning rockets and satellites), with admirable tenacity criticize the private space, primarily American. What's worse, the rhetoric of the top management of the Corporation difficult to find any adequate observations. Such officials, leading the famous and powerful during the Soviet era enterprises and design bureaus, today, an introduction to the achievements of the Soviet space program, trying to take the position of experienced experts. It is worth noting that this isn't very good at it, and their reasoning, obviously, reveal the ugly position of state Corporation not only in relation to private space, but to the future of the Russian space industry.

In February 2018, was published a column Director General included in the "Roskosmos" scientific-production Association "Technomash" Dmitry Panov. In it the head of one of the leading enterprises of the state Corporation congratulated the Mask and with the launch of the SpaceX super-heavy carrier rocket Falcon Heavy, calling the incident one of the most important events in the history of space exploration. However, the rating given to the activities of SpaceX Panov, did not stop. Except for "humanitarian and universal civilization", according to the head of "Tekhnomash", there is a second aspect of the launch is applied.

"So, from the point of view of the people for whom the space industry — place of work, the Mask of the revolution did not. Even was not anything new. I will not elaborate what and when of mission, the Falcon Heavy used and implemented before, it is easy to find. I recall only that, for example, our "Energy" 30 years ago, has deduced in space the load weight of 100 tons," — said a cut pans.

Member of the Presidium of the scientific and technical Council of Roscosmos rightly States that the aim of the launch of Falcon Heavy was a demonstration to the world of possibilities SpaceX, attracting investors, both public and commercial customers. With the task, said Panov, the company managed, despite the "released "nowhere" expensive missile, lost during the return step, the path deviation, the almost complete lack of information on the progress of the flight load."

Start heavy the Falcon Heavy at Cape Canaveral
Photo: Thom Baur / Reuters

The officer comes to the conclusion that the Corporation cannot afford such start-up, goals and objectives. "Imagine what we'd do journalists and "experts" from social networks, if Roskosmos launched a rocket with the bar on Board, one step which worked not exactly, and the load went nowhere without any feedback. That is, thrown huge money and zero (almost) scientific and practical information," says gentry about the launch of the Falcon Heavy.

Then it gets worse. It turns out, according to Panov, the Falcon Heavy "correctly as a heavy, but not super-heavy" rocket, and the launch of any vehicle "must have a practical purpose." And there are official reports that currently, "the Federal space Agency" is actively working on a new rocket "Soyuz-5" creates a super-heavy carrier and plans to fly to the moon. "At each point allocated budgets, which ask even tougher! And you're talking about running some dolls by car to anywhere without any information about the flight!" — exclaims gentry.

"Was not anything new"

Such comments top Manager of "Roscosmos" look a little strange. Take the comparison of "Energy" and the Falcon Heavy. American media brings together three first and one second stage heavy rocket Falcon 9. While the first three stages (also known as Central block and a pair of boosters) are reusable. "Energy" was arranged differently. Although each of the four boosters was unified with the first level of the middle of the rocket "Zenit", they claimed reusability has not been implemented. In addition, the Central unit of the Soviet super-heavy carrier does not suggest any other uses other than as part of "Energy".

The start-up FC Zenit Land launch in December 2017
Photo: s7space.ru

For this reason, probably following their own internal logic, pans in the deployment of the lunar missions also will not see anything revolutionary (unless, of course, will not participate "Roscosmos"), as in the days of the USSR and Russia in earth orbit operated multi-modular space station "Mir". In such a situation, it must be noted that the issues arising in modern aerospace applications, have no relation to basic science and is devoted to the solutions applied (engineering) tasks. From this point of view, solutions to be implemented in practice, SpaceX, has already demonstrated its effectiveness, while existing only on paper Soviet projects represent a meaningful value only in the imagination of Russian space officials.

No less strange to see the representative of "Roscosmos", never kept any element of its missiles, says "lost during the return stage", not to mention two side accelerator at the same time sat in front of tens of thousands of spectators watching the launch of Falcon Heavy at Cape Canaveral. Moreover, ignore the fact that the reason not the Central block of the rocket is just fuel shortage, which in its descent instead of the three worked as one engine.

"Rocket pig"

The argument that the payload of Falcon Heavy, personal vehicle Mask Tesla Roadster supposedly deviated from the trajectory, generally monstrous. This is for two reasons. Firstly, SpaceX, as rightly pointed out by the lords, included a demonstration of the Pentagon and NASA the ability to launch what the company managed successfully — for six hours the second stage with payload was in orbit around the earth, demonstrating the ability directly a payload into geostationary orbit.

Secondly, after successful maneuvers in orbit, the Falcon Heavy task included only the launch of the Tesla Roadster a heliocentric orbit towards Mars. The second stage, and the more the vehicle is not equipped with special maneuvering engines, which would allow precise adjustments to the flight path. Such means have boosters, satellites, and interplanetary spacecraft. To require their presence from the electric vehicle Tesla Roadster a bit strange.

Passage Panova, in which the electric vehicle is called a "blank" that "went nowhere without feedback", in General, similar to the description of the second start-up from the East, which burned three-ton satellite "meteor-M" №2-1 and 18 small satellites. In this case, "waste giant money" was equal to 2.6 billion rubles — the amount of insurance compensation Russian satellite.

The role of aimlessly hanging out in the orbit of the pigs is also great created is rocket-space Corporation "Energy" the first Angolan satellite, AngoSat-1, which "is in the drift, due to the fact that there are certain problems in the power system". The spacecraft, on which the Eximbank of Russia, VTB and VEB has allocated to Angola a loan of 278,4 million dollars, most likely lost. It is worth noting that all of these "blanks" were launched in November and December 2017, and the problem was the fault of "Roscosmos".

View Panova that any missile launch must involve the removal of the payload, of course, has the right to existence, however, suggests that its supporters believe in the success of the Falcon Heavy more the Mask. The Ministry of defence careful Panov — the first launches of light and heavy versions of Angara, the last from Plesetsk in 2014, took place not with the real satellites, and with their gruesomely. Misleading and statement Panov that the Falcon Heavy is "overpriced rocket". The cost of its development amounts to about $ 500 million, which is six times cheaper than creating "Angara". In addition, the capacity of the Falcon Heavy is about three times higher than that of the heavy "Angara", the cost start at $ 10 million less. In General, based on kg output payload of the American super-heavy carrier is cheaper than any existing Russian missiles.

 
The second launch of a Soyuz on the East
Photo: Eugene biyatov / RIA Novosti

Panov believes that the Falcon Heavy, the capacity of which reaches 64 tons, not a heavy rocket, but it will not agree to NASA that such class includes media that displays to low earth orbit more than 50 tons of payload.

We can assume that the head of "Tekhnomash" uses adopted in the Soviet space program, the definition of superheavy launch vehicle, but it is not. According to the "Great Soviet encyclopedia", to such class in the USSR took the carriers with carrying capacity of more than a hundred tons, while in its publication of lords says about the start of the Russian program of superheavy carrier, which, as noted, "Roscosmos", "bringing useful cargo weighing up to 90 tons into low earth orbit".

The definition of a class of media, depending on its payload capacity is rather arbitrary, however, for the Falcon Heavy Panov considers necessary to identify it separately. Probably the officer of the Corporation, which has no experience in launching powerful missiles like "Energy" and the Falcon Heavy, prefers the definition of super-heavy carrier, different from those in the Soviet Union and NASA.

"At every stage of the allocated budgets"

Gentry says that when working on the "Soyuz-5" which in the long term to replace "Soyuz-2" and "Zenith", and also provide the basis for a super-heavy rocket, "traditionally used all the available opportunities of the industry." Unfortunately, that only confirms that the state uncompetitive. In February 2018, the General Director of company "S7 space transportation system," Sergey Sopov gave an interview to "Izvestia", which actually recognized the imposition of state Corporation your business of new media. According to the businessman, we offer the "Roscosmos" for launches from Sea launch "Soyuz-5" is the "three-step and expensive vehicle," in fact — "and the grown stouter" version of "Zenit". "This is a remarkable carrier with great performance, but to repeat it on a new technological level, in addition to 2022, when our competitors go even further, it looks not the best solution," says the entrepreneur.

As an example of a suitable reusable carriers SOPs called the Falcon 9 and created Blue Origin rocket New Glenn. "Competitive rocket should be two-stage, cheap to manufacture and maintain, with a reusable first stage. If reusability is not achieved, the rocket should be even cheaper to compete on price with this vehicle," — says the businessman.

Unfortunately, "Roscosmos", which controls all Russian manufacturers of missiles, allows himself to ignore such comments, effectively making it impossible for the existence of the private space sector in the country. Moreover, the Corporation is sabotaging cooperation with the Ukrainian "Yuzhmash", producing "Zenith", thus not only depriving the orders of the Russian company ("Zenith" on 80% consists of Russian components), but also prevents private space.

"Rocket heritage"

The reasons for the cool attitude of the Roscosmos space to private companies is obvious. To do this, just look at the results that today the Corporation has come since its formation in January 2016. During this time, the reliability of Russian space technology has only worsened, with the result that commercial customers have gone to SpaceX. Here it is worth noting that in the increasingly competitive European company Arianespace, in contrast to the "Roscosmos", in the same period of time managed to maintain its share in the international market, despite the fact that their missiles are much more expensive. Strong position of Arianespace is due to nothing other than high reliability of the European missiles, which customers are willing to accept their high cost.

One would assume that like the lords, are rather the exception than the General rule in the Russian space industry, but it is not. In February 2018, kirk, Pisher, the President was in the US company ILS (International Launch Services), engaged in the marketing of "Proton" on the world market, they found Soviet missiles and develop its Russian light version "proton average" competitive advantages before the Western media.

The Executive Director said that in 2020-ies, when in the world will have five new heavy rockets (Ariane 6 European, Japanese and American Vulcan H3, BFR and New Glenn), the Russian "proton" will be "the only missile heritage", resulting in "it commercial operators will find stability, proven reliability and guaranteed deadlines for critical programs." Such words could say the Museum or the seller at the antique shop, but not a Manager, representing the interests of "space power" in the international market.

However, today, disposable and toxic heptyl running on "Proton" to find a competitive advantages created by the Western media almost impossible. It is noteworthy that Pesher about the commercial use of expensive features, a disposable and even before the first flight of the outdated light "Angara" mentions only in passing. For obvious reasons, the President of the ILS and all is silent on the heavy "Angara".

Thus, although the device and the possibility of "Soyuz-5" on the background of the Falcon 9 seem rather archaic, any of the missiles, Angara or proton compared to the first two is much worse. Comes to the ridiculous, "Roskosmos" flew only two times and four years ago, "Angara", created from the mid 1990-ies, in an emergency procedure decided to "upgrade". Given that doing this will "Center Khrunichev", the success of the event is easy to predict. In this situation, the comparison of "Roscosmos" their "blanks" and "legacies" with modern media SpaceX at least indecent. One gets the impression that the Corporation is in any way not aimed into space.

"The age of flight in order to stick the box was. Now we fly to master. So, it is necessary to fly, to build, to provide the conditions and go back," gentry writes about the purpose of "Roscosmos". In their pursuit of such ideologists of Russian space exploration should rely solely on luck.

Andrei Borisov

Source: https://lenta.ru/articles/2018/03/05/gabbers/

Tags: Russia , innovation , space