credit Energia / caption: if all goes to plan a Soyuz 3 rocket may launch this ACTS vehicle by 2018
The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has told Hyperbola:
Energia was selected to build the crew vehicle. It is clear that it won't be a winged option. The vehicle is to carry six crew to low Earth orbit and four crew to low Lunar orbit. Also, it is to deliver to orbital [space] station and to return not less than 500kg (1,100lb) of payload, and 100kg to lunar orbit
A bit earlier, Progress [Space Rocket Center in Samara] was selected to build a new launcher for Advanced Crew Vehicle [
Advanced Crew Transportation Vehicle] (up to 20,000kg mass to low-Earth orbit).Technical details are not to be disclosed on the draft design phase which will last until late 2010. It is reasonable because what we have for the moment is Energia proposal which has not been approved as final design yet.
The graphic above is from S P Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia's poster that was shown at the Farnborough international air show last year, this is likely to be the design to be evolved and agreed with Roscosmos in late 2010
The previous statement, seen above, has been amended following further information from Roscosmos, go through to the extended portion of this blog post to see the latets details about the replacement for the Progress Space Rocket Center Soyuz-FG and Energia Soyuz TMA
ACTS is a system which includes a vehicle, a launcher and ground infrastructure. ACV is the vehicle itself, Advanced Crew Vehicle.
General name for the project in Russian system is "ACTS".
All the components of ACTS shall be developed in close cooperation between Russian space companies. By the way, Energia will be involved in the Progress` design activities (new launcher).
In addition, Energia is planning to involve Khrunichev and other Russian companies, which possess the best space technologies, in their ACV design work as well.
on April 10, 2009 1:22 AM | Reply
It would certainly be amusing (and good) if Russia is successful with this. The specs for this vehicle seem designed to tweak NASA's nose. I wish them and NASA well, though it is sad that folks are still planning expendable vehicles and capsules.
on April 10, 2009 6:57 PM | Reply
A little confusing. As I recall, Kliper was the Energia proposal for the Soyuz follow-up and this current one was based on the original Chelomei TKS design.
It's odd that when the Soviets/Russian go their own way they produce masterful stuff like Soyuz, and when they do "copy the Americans - it's cheaper" it's scrapheap time.
This is beginning to smack of the NASA Constellation boondoggle: i.e a lot of money spent,marginal hardware to show for it, and with cost-overuns dropping everything into cancellation territory.
Meanwhile the Chinese make steady progress with wise and thoughtful decision making. A Taikonaut on the moon WAYYY before either an Astro/Cosmonaut manage it methinks;despite the slow and eliberate approach. Now where's my book of Aesop's fables....
on April 10, 2009 8:28 PM | Reply
Good stuff, Robbie. Keep on top of it.
Your Chinese interview was good too.
I don't like the way they just feed us in dribs and drabs. The new launchers are what excite me most so I just have to wait..
No egregious errors recently, Robbie. I'm coming to think that it wasn't your fault after all ... probably that guy called ED ... you know the one I mean,
Me.